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How to respond to an employee who mentions suicide

by Kaitlin L. Hillenbrand Q One of our employees recently told the HR director that she “prays for death every night.” Is there anything we are legally required to do in response?  A A condition that causes an employee to become suicidal may be covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In that case, […]

placement

4 Ways to Recruit Amid Historic High Unemployment

The COVID-19 crisis may be new, but the way hiring leaders handle similar crisis situations is not. The events following 9/11 and the 2008 Great Recession are proof of that. Such times taught companies that with systems and processes in place, they can keep moving their businesses forward.

Ask the Expert: Is PTO Appropriate When the ADA Doesn’t Require a Paid Leave of Absence?

Question: We have an employee whose essential functions require the use of their hands. They have requested an accommodation, and their physician has recommended a few weeks of time off until specific medical restrictions can be determined. What is our obligation to pay this employee during this doctor-recommended leave of absence? Answer: The leave of absence […]

Overtime: What Do We Do with Employees Who Work Extra Minutes?

We have several employees who punch in early or late, anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes at either end. They say they are “getting their workstations ready” or “finishing up.” Their supervisors have informed me that the overtime is not authorized and should not be paid. But I think I have to pay it if […]

Where’s your next big idea going to come from?

by Dan Oswald Among my favorite movies is the 1991 film City Slickers. Billy Crystal plays radio ad salesman Mitch Robbins, who is having a bit of a midlife crisis. Mitch and his two best friends decide to leave New York City to spend two weeks on a cattle drive in the Southwest. It’s there […]

Employee Dismissed for Threats of Violence, Not Mental Disability

Mass shootings have dominated headlines in recent years. From San Bernardino in 2015 to YouTube’s headquarters and the Annapolis Capital Gazette in 2018, workplaces have not been immune from the rise of mass shootings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 500 workers in America were victims of workplace homicide and 16,890 private-sector workers were […]

Iowa Employers Need to Be Ready for Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana manufacturers and dispensaries in Iowa must be ready to put their products on sale by December 1, meaning you need to understand the implications of the state’s medical marijuana law on your drug-free-workplace policies.

Restaurant and Service Dog: ADA Cautionary Tale for Employers

A restaurant in Burlington, Vermont, recently made headlines after refusing to seat a customer with a service dog. The restaurant owner cited an incident in which a previous patron’s dog attacked a neighboring table. In addition, she refused to seat the customer because of her unfamiliarity with their dog and a history of other customers […]