Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
There’s nothing like a picnic or a party to boost morale, build teamwork, and reward employees for a job well done. But as with many things HR, there’s a downside: Failure to clarify and enforce policies can lead to unexpected claims, such as claims for workers’ compensation or sexual harassment, or liability. Serving Alcohol The […]
Latino employees at an Arizona community college were understandably offended when a professor broadly distributed e-mail messages exalting the “superiority of Western Civilization” and deriding the contributions of nonwhite immigrants and Native Americans. But did the professor’s messages create a racially hostile work environment? The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Alaska, Arizona, […]
By Mark I. Schickman Imagine a horrible accusation made against one of your managers — maybe harassment, maybe violence, maybe theft, maybe drugs. This is an outspoken employee who has sued you before — and won — and with whom you have to be careful. But under heavy pressure from top executives, you immediately fire […]
By Sam R. Fulkerson According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 93,277 workplace discrimination charges were filed nationwide during 2009 ― the second-highest level ever ― and monetary relief obtained for victims totaled more than $376 million. The 2009 data show that private-sector job bias charges alleging discrimination based on disability, religion, and national […]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers on September 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners Union secretary. By 1893, more than half the states were observing a “Labor Day” on one […]
People often get hung up on titles. I must admit that they’ve never meant much to me. I really don’t care what name you want to attach to what you do, so I’ve been pretty liberal over the years about giving people the titles that they want. But in many companies, titles bring with them […]
Additional (Hypothetical) Litigation Value: $225,000 to Michael Scott for workers’ compensation benefits and medical expenses. Neck deep in an August hot enough to boil cement, and we’re dealt yet another repeat. In fact, I extensively covered this episode last October (see Acting Koi), and I’m unsure what else can be said of Michael Scott’s unrelenting tomfoolery. […]
by Gary Jiles Q: Can an employee be fired for being so obese that he can’t do his job? In other words, is obesity a disability protected by law? Americans with Disablities (ADA) Compliance Manual A: The employee must be qualified to do his job or he faces termination. With a few exceptions, the latest […]
It may seem to be just another in a long line of missteps—or misleaps—by corporate bad boys, but in this week’s HP debacle, there’s a special twist for HR managers. HR is always trying to find a way to convince the board that training is worthwhile, but for the most part, to do that they’ve […]
by Steve Brenneman Effective January 1, 2011, Illinois employers will have yet another restriction on their ability to make employment decisions. A new law will prohibit many employers from basing hiring, promotion, and other employment decisions on an employee or job applicant’s credit history. The Employee Credit Privacy Act (HB 4658), which was signed into […]