June 30, 1999
BUSINESS TIPS FROM UAB OFFICE OF MEDIA RELATIONS
1.Steps Toward Web Regulation The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warning Thursday to consumers about bogus health claims being made on the Internet is a step toward government's increasing regulation of information on the World Wide Web, says UAB marketing professor Warren Martin, Ph.D. "This is an increasing trend, and the FTC and Food and Drug Administration will continue to try to apply the restrictions from other media to the web." Today the government warns consumers, but tomorrow, it will police Internet businesses, possibly spawning lawsuits. "Most actions will not be challenged due to the expense, but some very visible cases will be in the courts and media." Call Martin at 934-8851.
2.U.S. and German Unions United Over Big Three Contracts As the economy becomes more global and companies more multinational, labor unions are adopting international strategies to accomplish their goals, says Ralph Johnson, Ph.D., director, University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR). The June opening of negations between the UAW and DaimlerChrysler is a prime example. "Ahead of wages and benefits will be the unionization of the Mercedes plant in Vance, Ala., and the Freightliner plant in Gastonia, N.C. If the autoworkers let this round of negations go by without unionizing those plants, it will be perceived as a sign of weakness and effect their ability to unionize and negotiate in the future. Germany's unions, who fear the export jobs to the to the United States, will support the effort." CLEAR studies workplace issues from the workers point of view and works extensively with auto and paper unions. Call Deborah Lucas, UAB Media Relations, 205-934-8946/[email protected]. UAB News on the Web: http://
3.Addressing the Dress Code Without Getting Sued Can you tell an employee his or her dress or grooming offends coworkers and possibly customers without getting sued? Probably, if you're careful, consistent, and kind, says Lynne Richardson, Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham associate professor of marketing and former head of the UAB MBA Program. Clearly stated, consistently enforced company standards let a supervisor approach any employee about improper grooming or attire. Still, the boss should be kind and positive. "You've just got to be able to sit down and say, 'I know you've never thought about this, but this is inappropriate and we've got to change our behavior. Here's why: it sends the wrong message, it's an image thing." Sure, it's touchy, but "if it's something work-related, you've got to be able to deal with it." Richardson teaches dress etiquette in her undergraduate professional selling techniques class and in her MBA-level professional development class. Call Nick Patterson, UAB Media Relations, 205-975-88
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