Hiring: Can I Impose a No-Spouse Rule?
We’re a fairly small company, so good working relationships are key for us. I think family entanglements in the workplace complicate things; can I legally impose a “no-spouse” rule? — Anonymous
Month: April 2006
Overtime: Do We Have to Pay Overtime to Our Highly Compensated Computer Professionals?
My question has to do with computer professionals and overtime. We’re going to be hiring some highly paid computer people in the near future. It looks like they will be making between $40 and $60 an hour. Under California law, do we have to pay them overtime? Is there some cutoff or some duty test? […]
You’re the Expert: Do you have any suggestions for improving performance appraisals?
We dutifully do our performance appraisals, but the information they generate doesn’t seem to be very meaningful. We want to feel more confident about our appraisal system because we rely on it for our compensation program. Do you have any suggestions?
Hiring: How Do We Handle Pressure from Hiring Managers?
I understand that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, we shouldn’t make an offer of employment until we have done all our other evaluative processes. For example, we should say the offer is contingent on passing a physical. But our hiring managers put pressure on us to get the offer out before we get a […]
Employment Practices Liability Insurance: What are the Pros and Cons of EPLI Insurance?
One of our executives has asked me to look into employment practices liability insurance (EPLI). Can you comment on the pros and cons of these policies and whether you recommend them? — Ellen M., HR Specialist in Riverside
Wage and Hour: What Are the Pros and Cons of Classifying Salaried Employees as “Salaried Nonexempt?”
Our VP of HR wants me to evaluate whether we should consider applying “salaried nonexempt” status to some of our nonexempt employees. I’m having trouble nailing down exactly why a company would choose to do this, and also, how it would work. I understand that the employees still get overtime, so what’s the point? — […]
Pregnancy Leave: How Much Leave Do Pregnant Employees Get and How Much is Paid Leave?
We have been a little inconsistent in administering pregnancy leaves. We now have several employees who are in the early stages of pregnancy or who have casually mentioned that they are ready to start their families. I’d like to get my policies clearly laid out before these employees start requesting leave. Under federal and California […]