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HR Management

References, Background Checks

02/01/2007

HR Law 101: Make it your policy never to hire a candidate without a reference/background check. Your organization could be held liable for “negligent hiring” or “failure to warn” should the employee turn violent on the job. If the employee’s past history would have revealed a problem but you didn’t spot it because you didn’t check, the courts will say you “should have known.” Your firm not only might have to pay damages but also would suffer a loss of reputation …    
 

 

‘My lawyer will be in contact’: Enough notice to preserve records

02/01/2007

A New Jersey appellate court recently granted a new trial to a former Paine Webber employee who claimed the company fired her for filing a sexual harassment complaint. During trial, the employee claimed Paine Webber withheld or destroyed critical documents …

When (and how) can Pa. employees peek in their personnel files?

02/01/2007

The Pennsylvania Inspection of Employment Records Law guarantees employees the right to view their personnel files at work …

Should we keep copies of I-9 documentation?

02/01/2007

Q. My boss is concerned about the increased penalties against employers who hire illegal aliens. He wants to be sure our procedures are in keeping with the best practices. One question I have: What do we do with the documents that new employees present to comply with the I-9 requirements? Should we keep copies of them? And, if so, where? —G.S.

Health coaches can help reduce hospital visits, care costs

02/01/2007

Employees with chronic health conditions like diabetes could make fewer trips to the emergency room if someone would check in with them every couple of weeks to make sure they’re taking care of themselves …

Consistent discipline: Your best defense against firing bias

02/01/2007

Some employers’ policies are stricter than others, such as zero-tolerance policies against theft. But it’s more important how you apply your policy than what the policy says …

Prompt corrective action limits harassment liability

02/01/2007

When employees complain about a sexually hostile environment, it pays to remedy the situation … fast. That’s true even if you don’t believe the actions would amount to illegal harassment …

No policy? Punish moonlighter anyway

02/01/2007

Q. We just discovered that an employee we hired two months ago is working for another company, too. He is a salaried employee and hardly ever in the office. Is there anything we can do? Is it too late to add a no-moonlighting policy to our handbook? —K.T., California

Traffic tardiness: Be consistent with punishments

02/01/2007

Q. How many times should we allow an employee to be late before giving an oral warning? We have a mandatory 8:30 a.m. production meeting. Everyone knows traffic is out of control, but most employees manage to arrive on time most of the time. Some are consistently late and constantly blame traffic. —J.A., California

Whistle-blowers protected only if concerns are in writing

02/01/2007

Florida’s Whistleblower Act protects employees only if they notify their employers of alleged wrongdoing before reporting it to authorities. That way, employers have a chance to correct the problem first …