Volkswagen's works councils Chairman Bernd Osterloh says the company may need to lay off workers if it receives steep fines for violations of US environmental laws. "Should the future viability of Volkswagen be endangered by an unprecedented financial penalty, this will have dramatic social consequences," Osterloh said. VW employs more than 600,000 workers worldwide and 2,200 at its Tennessee-based plant in the US.

Roughly 80% of new CEOs at Standard & Poor's 500 companies last year were promoted internally, executive search firm Spencer Stuart reports. The finding indicates that succession planning is becoming a higher priority for corporate boards. observers say. "Developing and selecting an internal candidate seems to lead to better outcomes," said Greg Brenneman, a Home Depot executive.

A Minnesota-based medical device manufacturer has agreed to a settlement of more than $1 million and will abide by a consent decree to resolve a discrimination lawsuit. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said the company refused to hire women and people older than 40 for sales positions. The company denied wrongdoing.

Microsoft runs a program called "Garage" -- originally housed in a garage-like space but now dispersed around the world -- where employees can access the tools they need to try out new ideas. Brainstorming and prototyping often filter through into Microsoft's other R&D pipelines, giving everyone a chance to contribute to the company's future, says manager Todd Rawlings.

Successful networking strategies are crucial when looking for new talent, and require hiring managers and leaders to identify common problems and find innovative solutions, Elaine Varelas writes. Five networking tips include embracing informational meetings, engaging in social media, and attending events both inside and outside one's industry.

A Wisconsin law now in effect specifies that a franchisor does not serve as an employer at the franchisee level unless it has consented in writing to doing so. The measure applies to areas including workers' compensation and unemployment insurance. The National Labor Relations Board and other federal agencies can still enforce their joint-employer rules against businesses in the state.

If you have a problem employee, it's important to get organized. A well-planned intervention can re-engage employees or help them improve, and if you don't succeed, you'll have a paper trail to justify termination. Take some time for self-examination, too, as you may be part of the problem.

In a remote part of the Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan, in a theme park devoted to Holland, the first hotel staffed by robots has opened its doors. Check-in at the Henn-na Hotel is performed by a robot velociraptor, and rooms are staffed by personal-assistant bots.