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HR Management

Can we limit cash awards to just some employees?

04/28/2010
Q. When we win contracts, we recognize employees with cash awards. But these awards may be given only to the select few employees who were involved. Is this legally OK?

Why should we keep our policy of not providing references for former employees?

04/28/2010
Q. We have a few supervisors who think it’s OK to write reference letters only for “good” employees. But our policy says supervisors can’t issue reference letters for any current or former employee. I’m having a hard time finding a reason that justifies our policy. Any suggestions?

Bethlehem’s St. Luke’s hospital won’t hire smokers

04/28/2010

St. Luke’s Hospital and Health System in Bethlehem will screen new hires for tobacco use and not hire anyone who tests positive for nicotine. Current employees will not be tested. Employees who fail the screening may try again in six months.

Enterprising techie rents city’s phones to family, friends

04/28/2010
An IT technician for the city of Philadelphia spotted an opportunity when she discovered 28 city cell phones that were going unused. She rented them out to friends, family members and eight city employees. The beneficiaries of her entrepreneurship then racked up more than $30,000 worth of phone calls and texts … She agreed to plead guilty to third-degree felony theft, obstruction and misuse of public property.

Follow your own rules, and be confident you’ll win lawsuits

04/28/2010

Any employee can file a lawsuit for any reason. But filing and winning are two different things. Most lawsuits end up dismissed after the employer shows the court it followed its own rules and fairly disciplined the employee.

Ensure workers know how to report harassment

04/28/2010

One of the best ways to protect your organization from sexual harassment lawsuits is to make sure all employees know what sexual harassment is and what to do about it. The more you publicize the policy, the harder it will be for an employee to argue she didn’t lodge a complaint because she didn’t know she should.

5 keys to boosting participation in your health plan

04/27/2010

Innovative employers are applying five new principles when they talk to employees about health and health insurance. As you look for ways to encourage employees to be active, informed consumers of the health benefits you offer, see how many you can incorporate into your own communication plans.

Take a hike: Tomorrow is National Walk @ Lunch Day

04/27/2010
Get ready to trade working lunches for walking lunches. On April 28, employees at thousands of companies will take part in “National Walk @ Lunch Day.” It’s not too late to organize your own lunchtime trek—we’ve got links to the planning tools you need.

Once is not enough! Promote perks year-round

04/23/2010

For too many employers, benefits communication consists of handing an annual statement to workers and saying, “See you next year.” However, a new survey says U.S. workers’ biggest complaint about their employee benefits isn’t cost or access—it’s that employees don’t really understand the benefits they already have. Here are inexpensive ways HR can educate employees year-round:

Supreme Court hears arguments: Are employees’ personal text messages private?

04/20/2010

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard oral arguments in a case that could settle the contentious issue of whether employers have a right to read personal text messages employees send using employer-provided equipment and bandwidth. Based on the Justices’ questions, it doesn’t sound good for the cop who sent racy texts to his wife — and his girlfriend.