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Considerations in Drafting a Workplace Violence Policy

Many companies have decided in recent years to implement internal policies regarding workplace violence. Typically, these policies include such items as what employees should do if they witness violence and/or hear threats concerning violence in the workplace. Some workplace violence policies also address what investigative efforts management will use upon receiving notice that an alleged […]

Religion in the Workplace: Employer’s Refusal to Permit Employee to Attend Jehovah’s Witness Convention Leads to Liability

In a new California appeals court decision, an employer learned the hard way about the obligation to accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs and practices—even if they conflict with work obligations. Request to Attend Religious Convention Lester Young, a Jehovah’s Witness, worked for Gemini Aluminum Corp. in Pomona. Young had attended a church convention almost every […]

Retirement Benefits 2013—What’s Really Happening?

Please participate in our brief survey and see how your retirement benefits stack up against those of other successful companies. We’ll get answers to these questions and more: What is the status of your employer match? (Stopped? Less? Same?) What percent of employees participate? What percent do you match? Can employees “cash out” vacation to […]

Ask the Expert: When Can Employers Withhold a Sign-On Bonus?

Question: We gave a $5,000 sign-on bonus to a new hire who has been a no-show for numerous days, and we haven’t been able to contact them. Can we withhold and/or deduct from this employee’s final paycheck to recoup some of the sign-on bonus? Answer: Most likely, no. Unless the employee signed an agreement giving you […]

10 Ways Employers Negate Their FMLA Rights

Although the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has been in effect since 1993, employers still make administrative mistakes that limit their rights and can lead to litigation. Here is my Top 10 list of employer and supervisor misconceptions about the FMLA that limit their ability to manage employee leave use or to defend against […]