<< Back to all news

Bob Shallit: To bosses overseas, rule misses the pint

By Bob Shallit -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, October 31, 2005
Story appeared in Business section, Page D1

California's new law requiring sexual harassment training for managers is creating lots of work for HR consultants. It even prompted a trip to Ireland for Janine Yancey, the Sacramento-based CEO and founder of emTrain.

Why Ireland? The final regs for the training law haven't been issued. But there's a good chance they'll require California-based firms to train managers who work outside the state.

So a San Jose tech firm opted to have Yancey bring her Web-based training program to its office just outside Dublin.

How was the message received? The managers were fine with the idea of creating a harassment-free workplace. But, Yancey says, they had a hard time accepting the idea that the restraints required in the office extended to employee gatherings in pubs after work.

She suggested they perhaps limit themselves to a single pint at such gatherings so that nobody gets inebriated and says or does something inappropriate. The managers laughed and laughed.

Nobody has a single pint in Ireland after work. They want to cut loose. "Their feeling," she says, "was, 'Hey, when we're done with work, we're done with work.' "

Still bullish: "Angel" investors are growing more cautious nationally, putting less money into early-stage firms, more into safer, more proven operations. So reports a new study from the University of New Hampshire.

But local angels seem to be bucking the trend. The Sacramento Angels, with 30 members, has done five deals so far this year - the same as this time last year. In each year, three deals were new investments in startups, two were follow-on investments in companies they'd backed previously.

Meanwhile, Strategis Early Ventures, a nine-member group, has invested $600,000 so far this year - all in seed or early-stage firms.

"I don't feel there's any cold feet," says co-founder Mark Bosse. "People may be more cautious but they're not pulling back."

The group is hoping to do a fourth deal this year. The leading candidate for support: an early-stage life sciences firm.

A ride to die for: That old hearse fixed up by the owners of Evangeline's has been a popular addition in front of the Old Sac costume shop.

Lots of folks check it out. Some talk with Leon Corcos, husband of Evangeline's owner Deborah Chausse, who lovingly fixed up the 1962 Caddy, and got a vanity license plate for it that says "0 Pulse." (His second choice was "2LT4CPR.")

Among those who stopped by last weekend was a high schooler who thought it would be cool to take his date to the junior prom - in a hearse. Leon agreed. He'll be driving the couple to the Bella Vista High School event in April.

Web stars: Companies often use real employees in their marketing campaigns. Bay Area-based eHealthInsurance has a twist on the trend.

It's using animated versions of two employees from its Gold River customer service office in a national Web-based promotion that targets young adults who don't have health insurance.

The campaign's Internet site, www.amicovered.com, has animated "Webisodes" featuring the misadventures of the klutzy Wyndale family. The segments are introduced by cartoon service reps who look, speak and act like local employees Wava Race and Anthony Lopez.

The campaign was launched last Monday. The same day it was shown to Gold River employees, who had no idea their co-workers would be starring.

Are the likenesses accurate? Pretty much. And they've elevated the reps of the reps. Says Lopez: "My kids think I'm a cartoon character."