Before firing anyone, ask yourself the following seven questions. If you answer “Yes” to any, your risk of sparking a lawsuit rises greatly, so contact your...
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...
Parents on your staff face a big-time dilemma if they've got kids approaching the college years: How are they going to pay the ever-increasing tuition bills?
Making a sale is worthless if you never receive payment. Many companies make the fatal mistake in their collection process of either letting debtors off too easily or...
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...
1. Focus on what you want to happen, not on how you feel. The emotional response always kicks in first, but the trick is not to act on it.
2. Schedule a meeting to...
Issue: The Staten Island Ferry crash in October raised the issue of when you can investigate employees' prescription use. Risk: You could spark an ADA suit by asking too...
Issue: Court raises threshold for employees to qualify for FMLA leave. Benefit: Workers can take FMLA leave if they have a serious condition causing three consecutive...
Issue: Workplace violence claims about 2 million victims each year. Risk: The resulting injuries and trauma translate to $13.5 billion in medical costs and 1.75 million...
Issue: Personal relationships between employees and their bosses are ripe conditions for legal trouble. Risk: Any form of quid pro quo ("this for that") exchange of...
Issue: Some courts consider agreements, signed or unsigned, to be valid, binding contracts. Risk: A manager's verbal promise could lock your company into legal...
Hammer home safety rules to new hires before they start. Don't expect on-the-job experience to teach them the safety ropes. Reason: New employees suffer the most says a...
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says you must make accommodations to let disabled employees perform the essential functions of their jobs. But regular, on-time...
If employees' on-site amorous actions are making you or their co-workers uncomfortable, don't be afraid to tell the lovebirds to withhold their romance for more private,...
Expect lawmakers in other states to be encouraged by California's landmark passage last month of a bill requiring all but the smallest companies to provide health...
Issue: Paid-time-off (PTO) plans combine sick leave, vacation time and personal days into a single leave-time bank. Benefits: A PTO plan can reduce sick leave abuse and...
