Tag: business

Employee Testing: Meeting ADA Requirements While Keeping Employees Safe

Did you know that some employers may be violating ADA requirements when performing safety tests for OSHA? This may include testing employees to ensure that they can perform certain physical functions of the job. This may also include taking adverse actions only against employees who have a disability. Employers need to be careful. “Some employers […]

How HR Can Earn a Seat at the Table: Understanding Cash Flow Statements

For HR to be most effective, you should understand how the business side of the organization works. HR won’t earn a permanent seat at the decision-making table without a clear understanding of what’s behind the finance team’s decisions and strategies—including basic financial reports. Let’s take a look at the cash flow statement as an example. […]

Best Practices for Dress Code Policies

Despite the fact that there are no federal laws outlining what employer dress code policies can and cannot do, there are still plenty of ways dress codes can get employers in legal trouble. Legal challenges to dress codes are often based on allegations of gender bias, religious bias, race/national origin bias, or disability bias. To […]

Telecommuting Basics: Q&A for Employers

Does an employer have liability for injuries that telecommuters incur while in their home office? How can you keep your company culture if you allow people to work from home? Who should pay for equipment for telecommuting employees’ home offices? In a recent BLR webinar, Dayna Fellows answered these questions and more. Here’s a sample […]

Is Your Employee Handbook a Legal Time Bomb?

Hunter Lott is an HR practitioner dedicated to the “rights of management.” His handbook remarks below came during his “Please Sue Me” session at a recent Society for Human Resource Management Conference and Exposition.

Final pay obligations in California: Payment timing and penalties

Final pay laws are strict in some states, and the penalties add up very quickly for employers who do not pay in time. With the clock ticking to deliver that final paycheck, it’s crucial for employers to understand their obligations so they can stay in compliance. The best way to avoid costly errors is to […]

Q&A on deductions from final paychecks in California

Making deductions from the final paycheck can open an employer up to legal problems—including accusations of withholding final pay if the deduction was improper. If an employer is deemed to have withheld final pay, it could be subject to waiting time penalties.

Silica, Slip-and-Fall, and More

Yesterday, we took a brief look at what OSHA is focusing on this year. Today, some more areas you as an HR professional should know about—plus an introduction to a detailed California-specific safety desk reference.