Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Botched terminations can lead to both damage to a company’s reputation and potentially expensive lawsuits. Here’s how to do them right. “You’re fired!” Thanks to Donald Trump’s TV show, The Apprentice, that little phrase has led to quite a bit of entertainment these last few years. But unlike the world of TV, in the real-life […]
Employers affiliated with a religion generally aren’t subject to the state Fair Employment and Housing Act, California’s anti-discrimination law. But in a new case, a California Court of Appeal allowed a worker to make an end run around the statute and sue an employer who was exempt from the FEHA for religious discrimination. We’ll explain […]
A number of bills that would significantly impact employers are pending in Washington.
Boston-native Christine M. Griffin has taken over the number two spot at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). One of her top tasks will be to help OPM Director John Berry increase the diversity of the federal government, which he has called one of his top long-term goals. Before being appointed to the position […]
The new Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA)—an amalgamation of changes designed to “close the gender gap” by breaking down barriers to economic progress for women—has begun to take effect. Governor Mark Dayton signed WESA into law on Mother’s Day earlier this month. Some of the changes were “effective upon enactment,” which means they went […]
Does an employee “assist in the running or servicing of the business” if he designs systems for a client rather than for the business itself? According to a recent ruling from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the answer is “yes,” thereby helping the employee satisfy one of the key requirements for the administrative […]
A good “fit” has long been an important consideration for employers when evaluating job applicants. Even an employee with stellar work and academic credentials may not be a great hire if he or she doesn’t seem to have the personality and values that mesh with the organization’s culture.
Often, the first document a new employee reads is the company handbook. A handbook serves many purposes, among them introducing the employer’s culture, communicating important policies, and setting employee expectations. If approached thoughtfully, a handbook is also a key tool for minimizing exposure to litigation.
Yesterday’s Advisor covered technology policies in general. Today we look at a narrower area—electronic monitoring—and provide an audit checklist to help you avoid expensive privacy lawsuits. Employers have many good reasons for monitoring employee activity, but they should always remember that there are legal issues involved, with privacy being the most prevalent. In general, says […]
In a tight labor market, you need to stay aware of what compensation and benefits your competitors are offering. Here’s a way to do it … at the click of a mouse. Yesterday’s Daily Advisor detailed a study by the Charlton Consulting Group on how employees greatly underestimate the cost of benefits to employers. The […]