Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
A recent verdict against an employer that failed to properly screen an ex-convict serves as a serious warning: You need to thoroughly check applicant backgrounds before putting someone to work as an employee or independent contractor. We’ll offer tips to help you prevent the problems one company faced.
Given how much time employees spend at work, it’s no surprise that romantic liaisons often develop. Many turn into happy relationships, but some end in disaster—for both the participants and their employer. This is particularly true when one person has direct or indirect control over the other at work, which can lead to allegations of […]
Yesterday’s Advisor explored the pros of team interviewing and introduced some of the downsides. Today, more of the cons and what to do about them. The best way to make sure that your team interviews are the best they can be is to understand their potential flaws. Take a look at this list of cons, […]
Are all your employees accurately classified as exempt or nonexempt? Are you sure? The costs of misclassification can add up quickly, and the DOL estimates that nearly 70 percent of employers are not in compliance. You shouldn’t risk it. By learning how to conduct an internal payroll self-audit that evaluates your current policies and practices, […]
By Susan G. Fentin According to a report published in February by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality, transgendered workers are twice as likely to be unemployed and experience a high degree of harassment or other workplace mistreatment. The report, Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of […]
Sometimes it’s not about how you win but how you lose. That was the lesson Coach Dave Belisle taught his Rhode Island baseball team last year when they lost 8–7 in a Little League World Series elimination game. This video clip shows the story of the team and the words the coach used following their […]
An employer group criticized the latest legal challenge to an employee wellness program filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The commission alleges that Honeywell International, Inc.’s biometric testing incentive for employees and their spouses violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. “This is an outrageous development, and one that […]
Is it possible to craft a medical marijuana policy that keeps everyone safe yet is non-discriminatory? This is a central concern for employers as more and more states allow legal medical marijuana use. Employers want to keep a safe working environment, free from concerns of impaired individuals in safety-sensitive positions. However, where is the line […]
Regardless of what the emergency is, a responsible company knows that preparedness is a key factor in minimizing risk and keeping people safe. So whether a fire breaks out in the coffee room or someone walks into your company in a bomb vest, how your firm responds is key to safety.
“You’d like to keep people like me out of your workplace,” says Attorney Donna M. Ballman, who often represents employees. “Try treating your employees as an asset, not an expense. A little attention now will help you avoid litigation later,” she says. Ballman is the lead partner in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida law firm Donna […]