Many of our Human Resource policies, practices, systems and laws were created for the workplace of yesterday.  We need to transform our thinking and make changes to reflect the current and future needs in the workplace.  We need new and better employment verification regulations and practices.  We need a complete overhaul of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act.  Both employers and employees desire flexible work scheduling with optional overtime or timeoff compensation.  The 40 hour work week is arbitrary and restrictive.  Many workers perform their work away from their workplace and outside 8 to 5 parameters.  Our technology allows it, our customers expect it, our workers like it, employers are okay with it — but our out of date laws, policies, practices and “yesterday’s workplace thinking” prevent us.  Worker training, medical insurance, pension plans, income and payroll taxation, affirmative action plans are some of the issues and concerns that will need to be revamped to reflect that already changed working environment.  An interesting question is “what comes first –  policy (legislative) change or attitude change?”  The answer is both.  Sometimes it takes legislative action to change our attitudes and practices.  The Civil Rights Act of 1964, and subsequent Affirmative Action regulations on federal contractors, resulted in changed attitudes.  Our changing society and attitudes also impact and affect the laws that are enacted.   Who cares if it is the chicken or the egg that came first — let’s just “get ’er done”.     

This entry was posted on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 10:45 am. Please comment or trackback.