On June 20, Pennsylvania became the latest state to set stiff penalties for any business found guilty of mishandling sensitive employee information. That makes 45 states...
A key employee jumps ship to work for your competitor. Over the next several months, you lose some of your best customers to the competition. Unless your former employee...
The romance and excitement of the Valentine's Day holiday is all well and good...at home. The last thing employers want to do is play matchmaker for their employees....
A new court ruling gives you more reason to consider a "no-dating" rule among your employees or a "no-dating subordinates" rule for your supervisors. At the very least,...
Issue: Many states require organizations to allow public access to their restrooms. Risk: You, like many employers, may be unaware of this code. One complaint can...
Issue: One in 20 employees moonlights, and a hot labor market offers employees in your shop new opportunities to work second jobs. Risk: Moonlighting can create tired,...
The best way to prevent employees from rallying support for a union in the workplace is to write and enforce a specific no-solicitation policy. To make sure it passes...
Issue: How to handle employees' vacation leave left over at year-end or when they leave your employ. Benefit: A clearly written policy can protect you from disputes and...
If you have a vague (or nonexistent) vacation policy, you're simply asking for a lawsuit. That's why it's important to make sure your organization clearly spells out...
You don't need to let an employee set a bad example by trying to force concessions from you that aren't required in a collective-bargaining agreement or employment...
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: Poorly managed disability-management programs and rising costs can reduce your organization's profits. Benefit: By making disability programs more efficient, you...
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: 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...
Two recent court cases help draw the boundaries on how far you can go with a razor. Federal Express recently settled a lawsuit involving its no-beard policy and a Muslim...
If you have a policy that bans hiring employees' spouses, consider dropping it, or at least rewriting it. Reason: 14 percent of dual-income married couples now work in...
