Tag: Policies

Your Manager’s Documentation—Exhibit A at Trial

Employment lawyers aren’t allowed to just say “Document,” says attorney Allison West; they are required to say “Document, document, document.” There’s a good reason for this mantra—documentation is critical. Documentation is what gives you credibility, West says. It’s how you show the world that you did what you say you did. It shows that you […]

Legal Dangers of Online Reference Checking, Video Résumés

In Yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Terry Solomon delved into the issue of Web 2.0 privacy. Today she covers legal dangers associated with online reference checking and video résumés. The main legal pitfall around online reference checking is discrimination, says Solomon. (Solomon and colleague Philip L. Gordon, shareholders in the Littler law firm, gave their suggestions at […]

Web 2.0 in the Workplace—Control or Ignore?

Employers can’t ignore "the juggernaut" of Web 2.0—it’s in your workplace whether you like it or not, says attorney Terry Solomon. But you can manage it. There’s no question about the increasing expansion of the Internet, social networking, and the Blogosphere, she adds. But should you try to control it, or give in? Solomon and […]

10 Tips for Managing Out-of-Control E-Mail

Yesterday’s Advisor covered how to write better e-mails. Today, expert Janis Fisher Chan offers her suggestions for dealing with the sheer volume of e-mail in your inbox every day. In her recent book, E-Mail: A Write It Well Guide, Chan offers the following suggestions: 1. Turn off your computer’s “you’ve got mail” signal. This is […]

Do your E-mails Send the Right Message?

Business is all about e-mail these days, yet many managers don’t know how to write an effective e-mail message, says Janis Fisher Chan. Her recent book, E-Mail: A Write It Well Guide, offers help. Check the Tone It’s easy to get the tone wrong in your business e-mails, says Chan. Check these three examples, which […]

‘Gee … You Don’t Act Gay’

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorneys MichaelCohen and Marc Scheiner covered some basics of dealing with sexual orientation discrimination. Today, we’ll cover their comments on awareness training and take a look at a special program that helps HR managers in small or even one-person departments. There’s a new level of awareness training needed around sexual orientation, says […]

Sexual Orientation—No Law, But Cases Go to Court

Sexual orientation discrimination—there’s no federal law forbidding it, yet "any lawyer with a pulse" can get a claim to go forward in federal court, says attorney Michael Cohen. If sexual orientation—and gender identity and gender expression—are not on the list of protected characteristics (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age), how do such […]

Award Programs? Be Wary of Legal Pitfalls

Yesterday’s Advisor showed how one company handles tiered recognition. Today we’ll look at legal issues and other considerations for award policies, and take a look at a unique program for developing all the policies you need. As with most HR endeavors, employee recognition and award programs come with legal baggage. Here are the three issues […]

Retention? Who Needs to Worry About That?

Think you don’t have to worry about retention in a down economy? Many experts suggest it’s especially important these days, particularly for the employees you value most. Today’s Advisor explores how one company uses a tiered recognition approach. Effective employee recognition is timely and meaningful, says Tommy Lee Hayes-Brown, AIC, a certified recognition professional and […]