Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
We have people out on leave. Some employees take intermittent leave and others are out for chunks of time. Our managers complain to me about how disruptive these absences are. I’m worried that the managers are going to retaliate against the workers. What should we be doing to prevent this? —Heather S., Sacramento
We’ve experienced a lot of turnover in the past two years—many employees have decided to quit and move on to other companies. On an employee’s last day, I meet with him or her to go over final paperwork, benefits, COBRA, etc., but I think we should also interview the departing employee to find out why […]
As we saw in yesterday’s Advisor, digital discovery is a painstaking—and potentially painful—process. Today, some tips from an authority on the subject, and an introduction to HR data audit checklists. The Sedona Conference® Institute develops guidelines for electronic document retention and production. Its recommendations emphasize reasonableness and cooperation. Here are some of its suggestions: Confer […]
Employment law attorney Michael Maslanka reviews the book How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill. Review highlight’s some of the books lessons about how Gates’ perspective changed after he worked “on the other side of the counter.” Gill was a top dog at a big ad firm with lots of “do-re-mi” and perks. […]
The best way to fight age discrimination lawsuits isn’t before a jury, but with preventive practices and proactive strategies that keep you out of court in the first place. The California Employer Advisor’s Special Report, “The Complete Guide to Understanding and Preventing Age Bias in the Workplace,” gives you information on what constitutes age discrimination […]
Suppose an employee files a discrimination lawsuit against you, claiming she was let go in a reduction in force because of her age. To help prove her case, she wants to paint a picture of a corporate culture of age bias. She plans to do this by introducing testimony from former co-workers who also claim […]
On Monday the California Supreme Court ruled, in a divided 4-3 decision, that individuals can’t be held personally liable for retaliation under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the state’s antibias law.
“Hi, I just need to see every electronic file and e-mail relating to Steve Smith and his employees, colleagues, bosses, and customers from the last year, please.” Arrrgh! Discovery should be easy in an age of electronic wizardry, but it’s a nightmare. If your company is sued over an employment (or any legal) matter, the […]
by Daniel Pugen McCarthy Tetrault Workplace violence has become a hot topic among labor, employment, and health and safety regulators in Canada. Of course, workplace violence is hardly a new phenomenon. Certain workers like police officers have an inherent risk of workplace violence. Also, put enough people in an enclosed area under stressful conditions (i.e., […]