Can you fire anyone for any reason or no reason?
You can fire anyone, anytime, for any reason or no reason. That’s heady stuff for any manager, but it’s dangerous to think that way.
Tag: california hr
Curbing FMLA/CFRA abuse: Recent legal developments
Curbing FMLA/CFRA abuse is complex. Employers must continue to meet their obligations to employees under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), yet they often fear claims of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation when rightfully trying to cut down on employee FMLA/CFRA abuse situations. Additionally, the case law […]
Does California Restrict the Qualified Privilege for References?
In yesterday’s CED,, we found specifics of the immunity available for giving references in the 50 states. Today, the rules for California and other states with special provisions, again with a nod to our new “50×50” reference guide.
Use HR Metrics to improve new hire performance
There are three primary areas where you can use HR metrics to analyze and improve your hiring process. One are is improving administrative efficiency (by reducing cost per hire, time to fill, etc.). Another is reducing waste and rework– high turnover means wasted time and money in recruiting and training (It’s better to get the […]
Fingerprint Checks and Reference Checks in California
Yesterday, we got some insights on background checks from Jared Callahan, a licensed private investigator and the director of client services for Employment Screening Resources (ESR) in Novato. Today, his thoughts on two more common “checks”: fingerprint checks and reference checks.
Independent contractor or employee? Ensure you get it right
How do you know whether to classify someone as an independent contractor or employee? Is it enough to have a contract in place that specifies that someone is not considered an employee? While most employees hope they have it right, misclassifying employees as independent contractors costs the federal government $2.72 billion every year, according to […]
Are job counter offers ever a good idea?
Without question, a job counter offer can be a useful tool if the situation fits. Under the right circumstances it might save a key employee from leaving—at least temporarily. However, in most cases they may create more problems than they solve, so employers should take care in assessing whether a job counter offer is truly […]
FMLA/CFRA medical certifications in California: An overview
A medical certification is a written document from a health care provider verifying that an employee’s leave is for a serious health condition. It is an objective tool that HR managers should use to determine whether to grant or deny leave requests under FMLA, the California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law, and the California Family Rights […]
Social media policy best practices: Electronic monitoring
How do you craft a social media policy and internet use policy that helps to maintain your business image and reputation, your right to duty of loyalty, and your right to privacy without infringing upon your employees’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression? How specific do you need to be in your employee handbooks […]
Defining essential functions of job descriptions in California
How do we ensure that our job descriptions contain the true essential functions of the job? Why is this important? The short answer is that essential functions must be assessed when evaluating whether a disabled individual can perform a job; in the absence of a job description accurately listing the essential functions, an employer is […]