Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
PTO policies are considered easier to administer than separate vacation, sick, child care, etc., but there are many policy issues to be decided before your program runs smoothly and avoids lawsuits, says attorney Katherine Marques. Unfortunately, to complicate matters, many state laws (and some city laws) cover sick time and/or vacation time, so proceed with […]
Yesterday’s Advisor featured attorney Katherine Marques’ 11 questions to ask in designing a PTO policy. Today, she shares key success factors for PTO, plus we introduce the all-HR-in-one-place website, HR.BLR.com®. Marques, an associate in the New York office of Holland & Knight LLP, offered her tips at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR® and HR […]
How do you show employees that you are thankful for their hard work? How about handing out $88 million in bonuses! Alaska Air Group paid annual bonuses totaling nearly a month’s pay to nearly 13,000 employees for exceeding the company’s 2012 operational and financial goals. The bonus of about 8 percent of annual pay is […]
Yesterday’s Advisor covered the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA); today, what the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires for pregnant employees plus an introduction to the guide many call the “FMLA Bible.” The PDA applies regardless of how long an employee has worked for you. The FMLA, however, has more eligibility requirements but also more […]
Pregnancy discrimination charges and lawsuits continue to rise, and no surprise—Many managers still hold out-moded ideas of how to treat pregnant employees, and that’s a recipe for your organization’s next lawsuit. “All pregnant employees should stop work 30 days before their due dates.” “Pregnant women should stay out 6 weeks after the birth.” “I’m not […]
by John Hall When your friendly Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspector comes a-knockin’, it’s usually too late to get your house in order. Here are some dos and don’ts to prepare you for an OSHA inspection and minimize your chances of citations. Preparation is your best defense Don’t wait until OSHA is at […]
FMLA basics are confusing enough. And then each aspect—substitution, bonuses, holidays, etc.—seems to have its own tricky twist. Let’s let the “FMLA Bible” sort it out. Substitution Required? Notice Required Employees may choose to substitute accrued paid leave for FMLA, or the company can require it. (Many do.) However, it’s not quite as simple as […]
In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Susan Schoenfeld briefed readers on the issue of colds, flu, and the FMLA. Today, what the courts have to say, plus a solution that may eliminate the problem—a corporate wellness program What the Courts Say At least two federal appeals courts have weighed in on the issue of flus and colds […]
Does a serious cold qualify as a serious health condition under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? How about the flu? Leave of absence laws were established to protect employees with serious health conditions; do colds and the flu measure up? Generally, unless complications arise, the common cold, the flu, earaches, upset stomach, and […]
Employers covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must make sure any new building projects are in compliance with the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design by March 15. The new standards replace the 1991 standards devised when the ADA became law. The 2010 standards set minimum requirements for new construction and alterations of more […]