Policies

NLRB rulings and new anti-harassment, marijuana and leave laws may prompt changes. A new year inevitably brings new workplace laws, whether at the federal, state or local level. So January is usually a good time for HR professionals to review their employee handbook and make changes. Staying abreast of the evolving regulatory environment remains one…

At first glance – or late clock-in – employee absenteeism and tardiness may not seem that big of a deal; after all, emergencies happen. But what if absenteeism stops becoming every now and then, and instead becomes a pattern of behavior? Employee absenteeism can be difficult to address once it’s become a habit, or accepted…

As a small business owner, it can sometimes feel impossible to do it all. It’s difficult enough to ensure that employees are performing quality work, let alone have to be concerned about issues with problems including attendance, the dress, and how each employee should work together. One of the ways to help enforce these rules…

Everyone is familiar with the concept of spring cleaning; maybe you even organized a few closets or cleaned behind your refrigerator last season. Those chores are good for your home, but did your spring cleaning efforts benefit your organization? Probably not. That’s why we’d like to introduce the concept of “summer cleaning.” Its purpose? To remind…

Take care of yourself! In medicine, sometimes the practices that get people in trouble are pretty simple. Too many nachos, and not enough leafy greens. You’d rather binge-watch Seasons 1-3 of Stranger Things than go for a walk. You hate needles, so you haven’t been to the doctor in 20 years. The same principle often applies…

Handbooks. The mere mention of the company handbook typically sends HR professionals into a furious search for any project other than the company handbook. Sorry, I can’t work on the company handbook, I have to watch the paint dry in my office. For this reason, beyond passing them off during perfunctory onboarding, handbooks typically get…

A performance improvement plan (PIP), also known as a performance action plan, is a tool to give an employee with performance deficiencies the opportunity to succeed. It may be used to address failures to meet specific job goals or to ameliorate behavior-related concerns. Outcomes may vary, including improvement in overall performance; the recognition of a…

A recent ruling from the U.S. District Court may surprise employers who order paid administrative leave for employees being investigated. The lesson of the case is that, depending on circumstances, paid administrative leave might constitute a materially adverse employment action sufficient to prove an unlawful retaliation claim against the employer. Judge Rya W. Zobel issued…

On April 12, 2018, the US Department of Labor’s Wage & Hour Division (WHD), issued an opinion letter, FLSA2018-18, responding to an employer’s request for guidance concerning its obligation to compensate employee travel-time under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The WHD begins the opinion letter by re-affirming several basic principles: Compensable time generally does not…

Employers look for ways for nonexempt and exempt employees to work remotely An inclement weather policy has two dimensions: The first and most important is employee safety; the second is pay. Employers should give serious thought to allowing employees to stay home on days when there is a significantly elevated risk of a traffic accident,…

It’s Time to Review Your Employee Handbook

Six Ways to Deal With Employee Absenteeism

Do You Need An Employee Handbook?

Introducing ’Summer Cleaning’: A New Reason to Update Your Employee Handbook

Ten Ways Employers Get Themselves Sued (Part One)

Taking Advantage of Your Summer Break – Revisit, Refresh, and Review

How to Establish a Performance Improvement Plan

For Employer, Paid Administrative Leave Is Not Always A Safe Harbor

DOL Issues Opinion Letter On What Constitutes Work Time When Employees Travel

Inclement Weather Policy Should Factor In Safety, Pay