Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Does your company host an annual summer event or outing? There’s nothing like a picnic or a party to boost morale, build teamwork, and reward employees for a job well done. But there’s a downside that could cost you big. Failure to clarify and enforce policies can lead to unexpected claims—such as claims for workers’ […]
By Alix Herber Inadequate investigation of employees’ discrimination complaints can expose employers to human rights damages. This is so even when employers do most things right.
by New York Employment Law Letter A new law that aims to protect unpaid interns in New York City from discrimination and harassment on the job will take effect June 15. The legislation, which was unanimously passed by the city council in March and signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in April, is in response […]
Does your organization provide anti-harassment training for employees and managers? One of the main reasons anti-harassment training is important is that employers have an obligation to provide a safe workplace—one that is free of harassment. If an employer does not take proactive steps to ensure such an environment, that employer will find it much more […]
by Amy S. Ybarra Bullying. We’ve all read the headlines. A child shoots another child who bullied him. A child takes her own life because she was bullied. As a result, schools are teaching kids and parents about recognizing the signs of bullying, reporting troubling behavior, and stopping it before it escalates. But bullying is […]
By David G. Wong Until recently, the damages awarded by Canadian human rights tribunals, courts, and arbitrators across the country for human rights violations were relatively modest. In the past few years, we have seen those awards increase, although not to an outrageous level. But that might all be changing, as two recent decisions out […]
By Kyla Stott-Jess A recent Alberta court decision indicates that health problems arising from systemic harassment in the workplace can be covered by workers’ compensation (WCB) insurance. This decision may have ramifications across Canada.
Supervisor training about preventing sexual and other harassment isn’t just a smart move—it’s one that’s required by law in many states. What should supervisors be taught? Supervisor Training on Harassment: What to Include A best practice would be to use this time when supervisors are together to cover not just sexual harassment, but also all […]
Employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace, free from workplace harassment. If one employee harasses another and the employer knew or should have known about it, the employer can be held liable. Employers may also be deemed vicariously liable in any case where the harasser is a supervisor. As such, the definition of […]
The biggest stumbling block to enforcement of policies is management team members’ tendency to enforce only “some” policies. The policy violation most indicated as warranting discipline but not termination is attendance and punctuality. The most common termination-level offense is violation of the weapons/violence policy. Our 2013 Policies Survey reveals that 93% of participants have formalized […]