Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
We are in the process of reworking all of our selection and hiring paperwork. I’m trying to insist on strong at-will language throughout, from application to offer letter to handbook. But our management is trying to improve retention and wants to brand the company as “a great place to work.” They think the at-will language […]
We are a school that teaches developmentally disabled adults, and we want to tell our teachers that they are not allowed to use their cell phones while class is in session. Will we get in trouble if we do this? — A School in Los Angeles
In every issue, we take one reader’s question and ask our other readers to weigh in. Here’s what you had to say about a recent question:
I’ve read about the new 401(k) Supreme Court case. How far back can employees sue us if they claim we mishandled their retirement accounts? And how can we protect ourselves now for something that might have already happened? — Anonymous
More and more of our employees are traveling outside the U.S. and are going to remoter places. What suggestions can you offer in the areas of health and security? — Marcia D., HR Manager in Los Angeles Many companies are regularly sending workers out of the country, which brings up a new set of […]
If you carry out misconduct investigations, how good should they be? As good as the jury thinks they should be, say today’s experts. And that better be pretty good, because juries expect a lot from HR. Most organizations are not particularly sophisticated in their investigation policies and procedures, say attorneys Michael Soltis and Allison Bogosian, […]
We’ve been struggling with keeping production up because of employee vacations. So instead of trying to fight vacation schedules, we want to start shutting down for a week in December and again in July and making everyone take vacation during those weeks. Are there any laws about doing this or any problems that you foresee? […]
We employ a number of workers in outdoor jobs during the summer. With summer heat coming on, are there Cal/OSHA requirements we need to comply with in this regard? —Sarah G., HR Manager in Marina del Rey
By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady A few weeks ago, BLR’s CEO wrote an e-pinion in this space called “BlackBerry® at the Beach,” a reference to expectations that workers be available 24/7/365. He expressed his e-pinion that lower level exempts, ineligible for overtime, are the new “wage slaves.” Guess what? Readers agreed! Here’s Bob’s […]