Policies / Handbooks

Workplace lexicon: Head shunting

12/25/2013

“Head shunting” defined: Secretly hiring a head hunter to woo an ineffective employee and shepherd him or her through a job search culminating in placement elsewhere.

Wrap up 2013 right: What to check in your annual HR policy review

12/23/2013

Now’s a good time to review employment policies and practices in light of the government’s aggressive efforts to enforce employment laws. To ensure compliance, review your policies and practices in all these areas.

Use formal hiring and promotion process to protect against discrimination suits

12/18/2013

Job-seekers who know how to apply for open positions can’t claim discrimination unless they can also show they followed the process. At the same time, a standard process lets employers track applications and easily show a judge why someone didn’t get the job she sought.

PTO banks take off

12/12/2013

Paid time off—vacation, sick and personal days all in one plan—is now the most common form of paid leave.

Factor disabled employee needs into planning for natural disasters

12/10/2013

When disaster strikes, smart employers have contingency plans in place to keep the business running. Such plans need to account for the kind of emergency facing the organization—and how it will handle the needs of disabled employees during and after the disaster.

Best defense against bias suit: consistency

12/10/2013

You simply never know which employee will sue for discrimination. Your best defense is to consistently treat all employees equally. Make all your workers follow all your workplace rules all the time.

Set policies to rein in 4 holiday headaches

12/06/2013

The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day typically finds employees distracted, absent or doing things that require extra HR scrutiny. Head off problems by anticipating them and clarifying your policies.

Trade Secrets

12/06/2013

HR Law 101: There are two important reasons you need to protect your company’s trade secrets: (1) You make it less likely that confidential information will be misappropriated. (2) It will be easier for you to seek relief in court if your secrets are stolen …

From locker room to boardroom, NFL scandal heightens bullying awareness

12/05/2013

Thanks to several high-profile news stories lately, your employees are becoming more aware of the pervasiveness of workplace bullying—plus the potential legal options that bullied workers can take. What does this mean for HR?

Stormy weather: How to pay when Old Man Winter causes absences

12/02/2013

When harsh winter weather bumps up against the FLSA, the result can be a blizzard of pay problems for you. Employees often come in late, leave early or miss work altogether. How should you count their hours—and their pay? Here’s a flowchart that breaks down your options.