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harassment

6th Circuit Sets Boundaries for Hostile Work Environment Claims

The 6th Circuit (which covers Michigan and Ohio employers) recently provided employers with fresh guidance on what workplace actions may be considered “based on sex” and how severe and frequent the circumstances must be to create liability for a hostile work environment claim. Facts Nicole Massey began working for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department […]

The Delicate Business of Mental, Physical, and Environmental Job Requirements

HR managers developing job descriptions often face a tough question: What is the best way to list special job qualifications—such as mental, physical, or environmental job requirements—without running afoul of the law? Some job description writers are reluctant to list such requirements for fear that doing so might discriminate against an individual with a disability […]

Design Handouts to Give Trainees a ‘Hand Up’ to Better Performance

  If your handouts are “throwaways,” you’re doing something wrong. Presentation expert Marie Wallace says, “Too many presenters treat handouts like an afterthought, justifying their action with ‘They will just get trashed anyway.’ That kind of thinking becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. When handouts are not designed well, they do get trashed.” When done correctly, however, […]

disability

An Employer Toolkit for Reasonable Accommodation

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has created an online “living” toolkit that continuously updates best and emerging practices in providing workplace accommodations. The contents of the toolkit’s “drawers” and other suggestions for reasonable accommodation were presented by Lou Orslene, a codirector at JAN and Deb Dagit, founder of Deb Dagit Diversity and former Chief Diversity […]

bully

Tips for Avoiding Retaliation Claims

What if an employee complains about harassment, but you investigate and find no evidence of harassment? Or, what if an employee files a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging discrimination, but the EEOC also does not find any wrongdoing? Can you fire either of these employees for making false claims?

Managing the Challenges of Intermittent FMLA

In an earlier post, I reviewed the basics steps to take to avoid Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) mishaps and best practices to follow when eligible employees request FMLA leave. But, matters involving FMLA leave can quickly become complicated, especially in regards to the implementation of intermittent FMLA leave. Managing intermittent FMLA leave creates […]

screening

5 Tips for Better Background Screening

Choosing a new service provider for your business requires decision-makers to take a variety of factors into account. When looking for a new background screening provider, for example, companies consider the cost, the provider’s history of compliance, its accuracy rates, and its turnaround times.

How to Develop a Strong Talent Pipeline for Your Organization

In today’s competitive labor market, reactive hiring is no longer sufficient, nor is it recommended. Picture this scenario: Your organization urgently needs to fill a specialized position, perhaps a senior compliance officer with specific industry certifications. After weeks of LinkedIn searches, hastily arranged interviews, and rushed decisions, you settle for a candidate who isn’t quite […]