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HR Management

Combat tardiness with progressive discipline

09/01/2005
Q. Some of our assistants are good employees, but they’re constantly late. What can we do to get them to come to work on time? —A.A., Virginia

Don’t waste money buying government forms or posters

09/01/2005
Several government agencies are alerting business owners that they don’t need to pay for most forms and posters they’re required to use and post in
their workplaces. Those documents are …

Analyze employee handouts for legally explosive content

09/01/2005
Issue: Ready-to-use employee training materials flood the Internet.
Risk: Your supervisors create liability risks by distributing videos, books or handouts without first vetting them for offensive content.
Action: Review …

Mandatory EAP referral is legal

09/01/2005

Q. In a previous issue of HR Specialist, you said that employers can’t force employees to visit a psychologist. Our Internet policy says that if we find employees accessing pornographic Web sites, they’ll receive a three-day suspension without pay and a mandatory referral to an EAP counselor. Can we require this? —A.C., Maryland

Look beyond SHRM for help in education, training

09/01/2005
Issue: When it comes to skills building, many HR specialists think only about the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Risk: SHRM is a great source, but HR pros shouldn’t …

Don’t try to muzzle employee gossip

09/01/2005
You may not like employees comparing their bonus checks or bad-mouthing their managers in the break room, but don’t even think about trying to silence such off-duty chats. If you do, …

Put limits on supervisors’ ‘power-differentiated’ relationships

09/01/2005
A new court ruling gives you more reason to consider a “no-dating” rule among your employees or a “no-dating subordinates” rule for your supervisors. At the very least, require supervisors to …

Workplace violence: Keep staff safe the legally smart way

09/01/2005
THE LAW. Employees who commit violent acts in the workplace obviously violate state criminal laws. But the liability trail doesn’t stop there.
Employers have a legal obligation to maintain a …

What to include in a camera-Phone policy

09/01/2005

Q. I’m looking to create a company policy regarding cell phones with photographic capabilities. Any suggestions? —L.B., California

Thwart FMLA abuse with periodic calls, check-ins

09/01/2005
Issue: Many HR professionals believe they’ve unwittingly approved FMLA leave for fraudulent reasons.
Benefit: A new court ruling makes it easier for you to check up on employees on FMLA …