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Policies / Handbooks

‘Uniform’ can be an expensive word for employers

05/01/2007

Be careful what you refer to as an employee “uniform” in your employee handbook and policies. The wrong use of the word could be costly …

Hey, customers! Guess what? We are sexual harassers!

05/01/2007

Do you have to tell your customers if you’re slapped with a sexual harassment verdict? You soon might have to. In a startling new court ruling, a judge in Illinois required a company to distribute a notice to its customers informing them of the $1 million sexual harassment verdict levied against it …

You (not the employee) determine FMLA leave

05/01/2007

Q. At a recent FMLA seminar I attended, the speaker said that employers have the responsibility to ask employees if they want their absences applied to their 12 weeks of available FMLA leave. I understand that we can run FMLA leave concurrent with paid sick leave, but what if an employee doesn’t want to use up his FMLA leave and has other paid or unpaid leave available under our company leave policy?—J.G., Ohio

Complying with the no-Docking rules

05/01/2007

Q. We are a small company with fewer than 20 employees. While I understand the issue of paying exempt employees full salary and docking from the PTO banks when they’re absent, is there someplace that I can go to get an example of a company policy to support a 40-hour-per-week effort from each employee?—E.R., Virginia

Low-Cost, Compassionate Perk: Living Wills for Employees

05/01/2007

Employees have always looked to HR for help as they prepare for the changes that come with life’s big events, like childbirth and retirement. Get ready for more of them to start asking for your advice about how to prepare for death …

How to handle teleworkers’ home office tech needs

05/01/2007

Should your organization buy a computer, pay for Internet access and maintain the equipment that your teleworkers use in their home offices? The federal government recently authorized its agencies do all of that for their teleworkers. And that may be the smart play for your organization, too …

Grants for outdoor journeys garner pride, encourage service

05/01/2007

Washington-based outdoor retailer REI helps its customers and its employees reach their personal outdoor goals. The company offers grants of up to $300 worth of REI gear and apparel to employees embarking on outdoor athletic challenges and outdoor conservation or service projects …

Court Administrator’s Job Cut by Bible-Thumping Judge

05/01/2007

A state judge who allegedly rants about “devil’s weed” and “Satan’s surge” while attaching biblical verses to legal opinions is being sued after he axed a deputy court administrator’s position in his office …

Failing to follow call-in rules doesn’t void FMLA claims

05/01/2007

You probably have a policy requiring employees to call in when they need time off to deal with health issues or face termination for abandoning their jobs. But don’t expect your procedure to trump the FMLA …

Ignoring discrimination policy may lead to punitive damages

05/01/2007

Train supervisors and managers to report religious and other discrimination, and be sure they know not to retaliate against anyone who does come forward. Ohio state law bars discrimination based on religion and other protected characteristics, and employees who can show they were discriminated against can collect punitive damages …