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Stress Takes Its Toll

Employee stress is a problem that affects all businesses and it has reached a point where it can’t be ignored any longer, say the experts. The causes of a stressful work environment are clear. The most oft-cited reason is over-work. As many as three in 10 employees feel chronically overworked, according to a study by […]

Your Telecommuters are Working…Aren’t They?

Telecommuting allows employees to work part or all of their standard workweek from a remote location, “seamlessly commuting” by e-mail, cell phones, and virtual private networks. (Editor’s note: It’s not always “seamless.”)

Who Gets Access to FMLA Confidential Medical Records?

There are clear rules for segregating medical records from other personnel records and limiting access. If people are not trained, it’s easy (and expensive) to let records get into the wrong hands. Medical records related to FMLA leave must be kept in files separate from other personnel and personnel-related records. Medical records must be treated […]

4 Steps to Investigate Wrongdoing—The Right Way

Be careful how you investigate employee wrongdoing, warn labor experts, or you could be setting the company up for a lawsuit for defamation or invasion of privacy. Follow these 4 steps to avoid potential litigation: 1.) Have a written policy that specifically states the type of unacceptable employee behavior in the workplace and that your […]

Buy-in: Saving Your Good Ideas from Getting Shot Down

Employment law attorney Michael P. Maslanka reviews Buy-in: Saving Your Good Ideas from Getting Shot Down by John P. Kotter, finding that it gives good advice on handling common objections to new ideas. I highly recommend John P. Kotter’s new book Buy-In: Saving Your Good Idea from Getting Shot Down, which teaches you how to […]

FMLA Recordkeeping—Almost Like FLSA?

Unbeknownst to many practitioners, the FMLA has substantial recordkeeping requirements. Fortunately, most employers are already maintaining some of these records to satisfy FLSA and DOL requirements. Specifically, the FMLA requires that covered employers maintain the following records for a 3-year period: 1.Basic payroll information and identifying employee data, including Name Address Occupation Rate or basis […]

Exempt vs. Non-Exempt: California Rules for Overtime

California and federal law generally require that employees working over 40 hours in a workweek be paid an overtime premium rate for those additional hours. California law also requires that employees who work more than 8 hours in a day be paid overtime, and double-time if they work more than 12 hours in a day. […]