HR Management

After Yahoo and Best Buy bans, what’s the real deal on flex?

03/22/2013

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer recently announced that employees who had telecommuted must now return to their cubicles at the struggling company’s headquarters. Before long, electronics retailer Best Buy followed suit.

Can we make flu shots mandatory?

03/20/2013

Q. Because this season’s flu outbreak was so severe, next fall we would like to require all our employees to get a flu vaccine. We hope this will cut down on employee absences during flu season. Would such a policy be lawful?

‘Cyberloafing’ is an epidemic: Add teeth to your policy

03/15/2013

The bad news: Up to 80% of employees’ time spent on the Internet has nothing to do with their work. Worse news: Having just a policy won’t deter them.

New employee in skimpy attire: Can we create a dress code without singling her out?

03/13/2013

Q. Our company is very casual and has no dress code. A recent hire is a young woman who wears low-cut tops and short skirts. Our staff is predominantly male and this has become a distraction and frequent conversation topic. How can we implement a dress code now without appearing to single anyone out?

Who owns the blog: the author or the company?

03/12/2013

Q. One of our account managers writes a blog geared toward our clients as a marketing tool. It’s linked to our website and shares our brand identity. All of the content goes through an approval process before posting. If he were to leave the company, could he take the blog with him?

Next year, what steps can we take to protect workers against the flu?

03/12/2013

Q. We’ve had so many employee absences due to the flu this year. Next year, can we require all employees to get a flu shot?

March Madness office pool: Ban it or embrace it?

03/08/2013

The HR consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas estimates that lost work productivity during the 19-day March Madness tournament will top $1 billion. The real risk, however, comes from compulsive gamblers on your payroll.

Use clear policy to thwart harassment claims

03/07/2013

One of the best ways to fight hostile work environment claims: a handbook with a strong sexual harassment policy that shows employees exactly how they should report problems.

Hold bosses accountable for workplace trouble

03/07/2013

Here’s an important concept to remember when disciplining managers: They are responsible for what goes on below them on the organization chart, whether they know the details or not. You can and should hold them responsible for enforcing employment policies.

7 do-it-yourself tips to cut training costs

03/04/2013

When companies need to cut corners, one of the first things executives slash is the training budget. When that happens, it’s time for HR to get creative. Here are seven practical cost-cutting tips.