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Policies / Handbooks

Focus on productivity in orientations, not paperwork

05/01/2004
Issue: Welcome new employees with information and support. Benefits: Smoother transition for new hires, improved productivity and reduced turnover. Action: Use the following tips to bring new hires up …

Same-sex marriage: Know the impact on policies, benefits

05/01/2004
Issue: How to sort out federal law and emerging state and local rules on same-sex marriages and unions. Benefit/risk: You don’t need to extend …

Even ‘Optional’ company events carry risks

05/01/2004

Q. Awhile back you suggested that we provide transportation home for employees who suffer an illness that could be work-related. Would that apply to company parties for which employees’ attendance is voluntary? —C.K, Illinois

Workers can file EEOC claims, even if covered by arbitration pact

04/01/2004
Don’t ask employees to sign away their rights, as part of a settlement agreement or lawsuit waiver, to file a discrimination claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commis-sion (EEOC) or …

You can offer better benefits to older workers, Supreme Court rules

04/01/2004
If your organization wants to cut employee benefit costs, the U.S. Supreme Court just flashed the green light on one tactic: You can offer more generous benefits to older employees than …

Alcoholics may be protected by ADA, but don’t tolerate at-work drinking

04/01/2004
You may be surprised to discover that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may protect workers who are alcoholics, even if they currently drink. To earn ADA protection, an alcoholic’s addiction …

Can you land in trouble for trying to stop harassment? Yes

04/01/2004
You know what they say about good intentions. As the following case shows, if your anti-harassment efforts are seen as an attempt to squash a union-organizing bid, you could be slapped …

No letter from OSHA? Don’t breathe easy yet

04/01/2004
About 13,000 U.S. employers recently received letters alerting them that their companies’ injury and illness rates are “significantly higher” than national averages. They were warned to shape up. The letters don’t …

Turn up volume on ‘no music piracy at work’ message

04/01/2004
It’s a fact that many employers are just now coming to realize: Hip-hopping employees downloading tunes from the Internet can expose your organization to legal problems, not to mention sapping your …

Attendance policy: Control absenteeism without breaking the law

04/01/2004
THE LAW. Regular attendance is obviously a key job function for most of your employees. But despite your freedom to set and enforce attendance rules, you also face key legal …