Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Asking an employee to explain the nature of an illness that has kept them out of work violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is arguing in an ongoing California case. The commission sued retailer Dillard’s, which maintained a written policy requiring employees returning from sick leave to submit a doctor’s […]
In yesterday’s Advisor, we offered guidance on FMLA certifications; today, we’ll cover when you can “clarify” or “authenticate” those certifications, and we’ll introduce the unique checklist-based audit system that lets you find problems before the feds and the lawyers do. Authentication and Clarification of Medical Certifications Employers are entitled to authenticate or clarify information received […]
With so many employees working from home full time for the first time, many scrambled to find a place to work. Not everyone had a home office, and the kitchen table only works for so long. Some have turned to a new solution: the tiny office.
Believe it or not, the winter season does affect your employees’ productivity and overall health. And research has discovered that workers are more productive when they’re warm compared to when they’re cold.
by David S. Fortney and H. Juanita M. Beecher We should honor—not attack—those who have stood up for equality and other cherished American values. —Intel CEO Brian Krzanich upon his resignation from the American Manufacturing Council The summer of 2017 has shown that American business is committed to, and prepared to defend, broad-based EEO and […]
No event has impacted the economy as abruptly and with such speed as the COVID-19 pandemic, an occurrence that altered the way we live and work virtually overnight. In the span of a mere 8 weeks, unemployment shot from under 4% to nearly 15%.
Do you associate alcohol addiction with workplace events, like a group of coworkers at a happy hour on a Friday afternoon? No, but perhaps you should. Nearly 50 million Americans struggle with addiction, and alcohol is the most common culprit. Drinking is pervasive throughout our culture, with almost half of all Americans over age 12 […]
Here’s an interesting twist on a question we get all the time. We’re often asked, “Can I have an English-only rule in the workplace?” The answer is generally no, unless there are very strong business reasons dictating it. In this case, the question was, “Can I require a bilingual workforce?” The court said the answer […]
Although most employers were hesitant to implement vaccine mandates after the initial rollout of the COVID-19 shots, the still-surging pandemic (driven by the highly contagious delta variant) has caused many companies to rethink their position. Exemptions may be available, however, to those who can demonstrate a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief barring them […]
When I ask direct supervisors who their employees go to for assistance about a health condition in the workplace, they’re quick to say, “Me! My employees know they can come to me with anything.” While it may be true that direct supervisors have a good relationship with their employees, it can often be challenging or […]