The Problem Employee leave is impacted by a variety of laws that address employer obligations and employee responsibilities. While the employee leave process is managed by an organization’s Human Resource Management (HRM) function, in most cases these laws and internal organizational policies and procedures do not address the training needs related to the employee’s return to work and subsequent integration into the workplace. Training, and Development is a component of Human Resource Development (HRD) and thus HRD should be largely involved in the employee’s transition back to work. In addition, supervisors/managers should examine their role in to evaluating the training needs of the employee and facilitating a successful post-leave return to work. The HRD literature can benefit from an integrated model of. The Solution This article reviews an important workplace phenomenon existing at the intersection of Human Resource Management (HRM) policies related to employee leave and HRD practices related to addressing training needs upon return to work and emphasizing employee orientation and integration back into the workforce. As a major component of HRD, Organization Development (OD) can also be employed to create a supportive organizational culture for employees on leave. We synthesize existing research on post-leave and rely on the HRD literature to propose solutions that highlight employee training and development interventions. Recommendations for practitioners include how to improve the workplace environment for employees prior to their leave as well as upon return, how to enhance the existence of orientation programs, and how to properly train managers to work well with employees and assess their training needs upon return from leave. The Stakeholders HRD practitioners that are looking to improve leave policies and documented practices as they pertain to the performance and training needs of leave-taking employees upon returning to work as well as managers that strive to ensure returning employees have the knowledge and skills necessary to regain previous levels of competence and productivity will be interested in this research.

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Organizational change is a situation, while innovation is an attitude of change. Organizations cannot, in a global economy, remain static and rooted in current practices. Organizational innovation is the necessary ingredient for successful change. More difficult than both change and innovation is the subject of sustainability. Change is often a temporary “fix” that quickly reverts to status-quo. This chapter recommends practices for change management and organizational innovation by reviewing change theories, describing innovation models, referencing sustainability leadership, and providing examples of technology integration. Educators, trainers, performance specialists, change agents, managers, and organizational development professionals will benefit by understanding the principles and future trends of innovation. Both educational institutions and industrial organizations will utilize the guiding questions to determine their readiness to embrace organizational innovation. The goal is to instill the need for an attitude of change in all stakeholders of the organization in order to be well equipped to direct the nation’s workforce.

Synopsis The Women’s US Soccer team in 2016 entered into the summer Olympics with a dark cloud over their heads, the lack of pay equity in the sport of soccer. Despite being heralded as the best female team in the world, the team’s compensation does not reflect their winning record or average work performance. Complex contractual negotiations and compensation intricacies surround this situation and the legal proceedings with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that include discrepancies between gender preferences for compensation, benefits packages and terms of the overall collective bargaining agreement in a monopsony. The financial impact of lost wages and the role of the fan base are also examined. Research methodology This case has been created through the eyes of past and current members of the US Women’s Soccer team using scholarly and periodical sources. Relevant courses and levels This case is designed for upper level, undergraduate human resource management, labor economics and employment law courses, specifically, principles of human resource management, gender equity courses, business law, labor economics, law & economics.

Organizational change is a situation, while innovation is an attitude of change. Organizations cannot, in a global economy, remain static and rooted in current practices. Organizational innovation is the necessary ingredient for successful change. More difficult than both change and innovation is the subject of sustainability. Change is often a temporary “fix” that quickly reverts to status-quo. This chapter recommends practices for change management and organizational innovation by reviewing change theories, describing innovation models, referencing sustainability leadership, and providing examples of technology integration. Educators, trainers, performance specialists, change agents, managers, and organizational development professionals will benefit by understanding the principles and future trends of innovation. Both educational institutions and industrial organizations will utilize the guiding questions to determine their readiness to embrace organizational innovation. The goal is to instill the need for an attitude of change in all stakeholders of the organization in order to be well equipped to direct the nation’s workforce.