06/14/2010
Q. We are a small business with 20 employees. We sent a crew of maintenance men (hourly employees) to seminar about two hours away. On the way, one of the guys had a seizure in the car and was taken to the hospital via ambulance. Diagnosis was low electrolytes. Apparently, after speaking to the employee, he has had this before but never followed up with a doctor. We were unaware of these problems and he has been with us for about three years. My question: Because he was technically on the clock on the way to the seminar, is this workers’ compensation? Personal insurance? All he was doing was riding in the vehicle? No strenuous activity. — N., New York
06/14/2010
Q. “Recently we disciplined an employee for using the Internet without permission. A written warning was issued. The next day, the supervisor informed the employee that he would be on a two-week probationary period, which was verbally communicated to the employee. Since nothing was said or written about that probation period at the time of the discipline, is it possible to amend the write-up to include the probation period?” — J.Q., North Carolina
