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Termination Agreements: Recent Case Says Commonly Used Language Exposes Employers To New Risks

When you ask an employee to sign an employment termination agreement in exchange for severance benefits or other payments, you probably include language making clear that the agreement supersedes any prior understandings there may have been between you and the employee. But a new case suggests this commonly used provision has some significant hidden risks—and […]

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 […]

Did I say that?

Satya Nadella’s job was tough enough from the start. He followed Microsoft lifer Steve Ballmer and founder Bill Gates into the CEO role at a time when the company is looking to keep its businesses rolling in the face of a changing industry, slower PC sales, and serious pressure on its bread-and-butter Windows and Office […]

Party+Alcohol=Harassment+Liability

In yesterday’s Advisor, we covered the alcohol-related challenges of company social events; today we’ll examine harassment and injury issues and take a look at a unique program that “writes” your policy for social activities and dozens of other critical HR policies. Sexual Harassment at Social Functions Courts in many states have found that unwanted sexual […]

Job numbers good news for HR reps

by Connor Beatty Each month, economists eagerly await the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) jobs report. The report provides analysts a snapshot of the nation’s economic health by measuring the number of jobs the economy added or lost in the previous month. Based on a recent study, perhaps HR managers should review the monthly jobs […]

Technology Brings Tricky Twist on Old Issue—Hours Worked

What effect does your employees’ use of PDA’s have on wage and hour issues? Are you “suffering and permitting” when they respond to calls after hours? Is any time ever “de minimis?” Attorney Laura Innes tackles these questions and makes some recommendations for 2011. Compensable “hours worked” is all the time during which an employee […]

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Things for which an HR manager should be thankful

by Richard Yurko The challenges facing HR managers can be daunting. Amendments to the law, new and changing federal and state administrative policies, and a diverse workforce all contribute to the difficulty of appropriately resolving employee issues. As we enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday, here are some things for which every HR manager should be thankful.  […]

Misclassifying Employees as Independent Contractors: Front-Burner Issue Again

by Kara E. Shea Independent contractors, by definition, are self-employed. Because they aren’t employees, they aren’t covered by employment, labor, and related tax laws. As a result, some employers may be tempted to reclassify employees as independent contractors to avoid taxes, benefits, record-keeping requirements, overtime, and other expenses. Wage and Hour Compliance Manual Contractors are […]

HR soul searching: New report calls for ‘extreme makeover’

Forward-thinking leaders of change or stuck-in-the-past resisters of change. Which phrase describes today’s human resources professionals? Serious HR practitioners aspire to the first description, but a new report warns that the profession is in need of an “extreme makeover” to ensure it can meet the engagement, leadership, development, and other challenges facing today’s workforce. The […]