Category: HR Management & Compliance

There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.

Need a Political Activity Policy? (Here Are Two)

In yesterday’s Advisor, we covered what employers can do about heated political discussions in the workplace. Today, sample policies regarding political activity plus an introduction to the indispensible 50×50 (50 Employment Laws in 50 States). Here’s sample Political Activity Policy number one: Employees are not to participate in election activities while working and are not […]

There’s More to Ladder Safety Training Than Workers Might Think

According to OSHA, falls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination, and extension) are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries. Accidents occur frequently in both construction and general industry. Accidents can be serious, and frequently involve numerous lost workdays and high workers’ compensation costs. Some accidents are fatal. Train your workers to […]

Can You Ban Political Discussion? (You Can Try …)

What do you do if your workplace is so politically polarized that workers in the same department can’t have a civil discussion without becoming red-faced and loud-mouthed? In a BusinessWeek article, Bruce Weinstein, PhD., who calls himself “The Ethics Guy,”says that most political issues are by their nature highly divisive. At stake in this year’s […]

‘Cat’s Paw’ Theory Spurs Court Decision, Proves Doubly Damaging to Employer

A supervisor’s apparent bias in the firing of her employee proved costly in a recent 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling which upheld a decision by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division awarding $413,000 in damages and liquidated damages in an FMLA retaliation claim based on cat’s-paw liability. […]

HR Department Survey Results—How Does Your Department Compare?

HR responsibilities, HR staffing ratios, HR’s strategic role, HR outsourcing, HR reporting relationships and more, it’s all here in the results of our “Your HR Department” survey. How do you match up? See detailed findings below. What Is HR Responsible For? HR covers a lot of territory as the chart shows. No surprise that benefits […]

Top 8 HR Daily Advisor Articles 2012: E-pinion Edition

Your HR Daily Advisor peers have spoken! Here is a list of the top 8 most popular HR Daily Advisor E-pinion articles so far this year. Read on below for must-read tips on performance evaluations, background checks, and more! Ever Been Arrested or Convicted? … Is It Discriminatory to Ask? EEOC has released guidance on […]

6th Circuit: Mandatory Psychological Counseling is an ADA ‘Medical Exam’

Mandatory mental health counseling is a “medical examination” regulated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Therefore, a requirement that an employee undergo such counseling is subject to all of ADA’s rules and restrictions; specifically, one that prohibits employers from requiring medical exams that are not job-related […]

Defining essential functions of job descriptions in California

How do we ensure that our job descriptions contain the true essential functions of the job? Why is this important? The short answer is that essential functions must be assessed when evaluating whether a disabled individual can perform a job; in the absence of a job description accurately listing the essential functions, an employer is […]

8 Steps to Keep Your Workplace Union-Free

Yesterday’s Advisor covered what employers can’t do when fighting off unions; today, eight steps you can take, plus an introduction to an extraordinary program prepared especially for smaller—or even one-person—HR departments. Once again, we turn to BLR’s managing editor of HR.BLR.com, attorney Patricia Trainor, SPHR for advice. In addition to communicating with employees about unions, […]