Issue: Can you tell an employee to take a bath? Risk: You risk a discrimination claim because, unlike other grooming-policy issues, odor lies in the eye (or nose) of the...
Overly friendly staff members can pose a real dilemma for managers. How can you keep a professional distance and avoid the appearance of favoritism, yet still make sure...
As a manager, you need to let employees express their religious beliefs while, at the same time, making sure those expressions don’t infringe on the rights of...
Issue: Employees who miss work frequently often show predictable patterns. Benefit: Knowing which people are likely to avoid work can help cut costly absenteeism. ...
Issue: When can you refuse to rehire a former employee who may be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Benefit: You don't have to rehire people who...
Issue: Is pursuing a graduate degree worth the effort? If so, which one should you pursue? Benefits: An advanced degree can build your HR and business know-how, plus...
Thorough background checks can help you defeat any negligent hiring claim. But what if applicants' background checks come up clean, yet they begin displaying...
If you took out a home-equity loan last year and injected the resulting cash into your pass-through business (sole proprietorship, S corps, partnership or LLC), you can...
Q: In a recent item in your newsletter, you said that sole proprietors, partners and LLC members can use the per-diem method for reimbursing meals and incidental...
Issue: Poorly managed disability-management programs and rising costs can reduce your organization's profits. Benefit: By making disability programs more efficient, you...
Q: I received shares of Prudential stock a few years ago because I had converted a group policy to a personal policy. If I sell the shares now, do I have to pay tax on...
Sir Ernest Shackleton never did get to walk across the South Pole. The explorer’s huge ego had betrayed him when he set off for Antarctica in the dead of winter,...
Power listening is listening with empathy, putting yourself in the other person's shoes, and responding with what you understand the other person has said. The best...
The Supreme Court last month handed employers more power to set and enforce policies that deny rehiring to employees fired for misconduct. The court said such...
Americans can speak their minds as they wish in many places, but your workplace isn't one of them. First Amendment free-speech rights do not extend to the private...
Issue: Some state rules seem to clash with federal rules over whether you can require employees to accept pay via direct deposit. Risk: By following your state law, in...
