Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
We are trying to make better sense of our discipline system. After people get a verbal and then a written warning, we suspend and ultimately fire them if the misconduct continues. But the suspension seems more like a gift than a punishment to many of our workers. What do you recommend for the “serious” steps […]
We’ve got a fork truck driver whose hearing is so bad that he can’t hear people shout at him, and he can’t hear warning honks. We think he’s a real danger to other workers. What can we do? — Joel, HR Manager in Merced
An Alameda County jury has awarded $1.27 million to an African-American BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train mechanic who claimed his superiors retaliated against him after he complained about harassment by a co-worker.
We’re in the process of rewriting our employee handbook, and we want to modify our employee appearance policy. What do we need to consider? We want our employees to look professional, but we don’t want to get caught in a lawsuit. —Ronald W., San Jose
Just two weeks ago, a temblor measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale rattled San Jose and was felt throughout the reaches of the Bay Area. Fortunately, it didn’t cause any major damage. But the quake was another wake-up call for California residents and businesses about the possibility of a much bigger, destructive quake occurring in […]
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a revised Form I-9, which is the form that all employers must complete for new hires to verify eligibility to work in the U.S. As of Nov. 7, 2007, the new form is the only version that is acceptable for use, although the USCIS says it […]
In an important new ruling, the California Supreme Court has approved an employer’s practice of paying increased salaries and commissions to cover employees’ mileage expenses. At issue was Labor Code Section 2802, which requires employers to indemnify employees for necessary expenditures they incur as a result of the job. The employees here had argued that […]
Conducting internal investigations can be key to helping employers avoid lawsuits when an employee complains or there’s other evidence of misconduct or workplace problems. But if not handled properly, investigations can also land an employer in hot water. In a recent Employer Resource Institute audio conference, California employment attorney Roy A. Clark discussed problems that […]
Governor Schwarzenegger has announced a support network for small businesses impacted by the recent Southern California fires, to help these businesses recover as quickly as possible.
We aren’t subject to an affirmative action plan, but I’m concerned that our workforce isn’t very diverse and that we may be losing good employees as a result. What are our legal obligations with diversity, and how can we address diversity at our company? — Abby B., HR Manager in Bakersfield