Want a Return-to-Work Release? Consistent Policies Are Key
Employers are permitted to require an employee returning from medical leave to submit a fitness-for-duty certification but only under certain circumstances, as a recent case illustrates.
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Theft was Gross Misconduct, but Inconsistencies May Make COBRA Ineligibility Less Clear
When an employee is terminated due to “gross misconduct,” the termination is not considered a qualifying event, and an employer does not have to offer Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) coverage to the ex-employee (or his or her covered spouse or dependents). Neither the statute, legislative history, nor regulations specifically define the term “gross […]
Erratic Attendance Not a Reasonable ADA Accommodation
An employer is not required to alter its attendance policy to allow erratic, extended and indeterminate leave as a “reasonable accommodation,” according to a federal district court in Texas. Accordingly, the employer did not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act when it fired an employee for violating the company’s attendance policy, the court ruled in […]
4 Ways Data Can Help Benefit Leaders Improve Employee Health
As executives across industries assess how to remain competitive in their markets, ensuring their people are healthy and their organizations are productive and performing are paramount to ongoing success. The landscape for CHROs, total rewards executives, and benefits leaders continues to evolve, and knowing their employees requires an increased focus on data to inform their […]
Tech-Savvy Gen Z Talent Shapes the Future of Recruitment
According to the 2024 ManpowerGroup Talent Shortage Study, 75% of employers worldwide are struggling to find talent to fill critical roles. This talent shortage is top of mind for employers and by extension, the staffing industry as a whole. While the problem is complex, the solution is simple – attract and activate the Gen Z […]
4 Common, Practical Problems in Employment Manuals
Every HR professional struggles, sweats, and possibly rips their hair out (if they have any) over what to put into an employment manual and how best to minimize litigation for their company in the future. Worrying exclusively about liability rather than practicality, however, can lead to significant concerns. Here some common issues with employment manuals.
10 Sins of Well-Meaning Supervisors
There are myriad ways supervisors can make simple mistakes that can lead to legal repercussions. How many are you guilty of?
Untouchable? Disciplining employees for disability-caused misconduct
by Nikki Hall and Eugene Park HR professionals regularly implement employee discipline and are adept at navigating the waters of reasonable accommodations for disabled employees. Mingling those two issues, however, can sometimes pull an employer in opposite directions when it’s responding to, for example, a chronically tardy employee suffering debilitating side effects from medication or […]
IRS Announces 2017 Standard Mileage Rates
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued the 2017 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes.
FMLA Training Scenario: Reduction in Force During Leave
Here we present a leave-related workplace scenario—inspired by an actual court case—that’s intended to help HR professionals better understand an employer’s responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In this scenario, an employer mistakenly violates its own internal policy of not laying off employees while they are on leave and eliminates the position […]