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Discipline / Investigations

Good records make it easy to justify discipline

10/14/2008

The Boy Scout motto, “Be prepared,” applies to employers, too. You simply never know when—or why—a fired employee will sue. But you don’t have much to worry about if you have processes in place to make sure each and every disciplinary decision is fair and rational …

Macy’s resolves English-only incident at Edina store

10/14/2008

Macy’s has rescinded a manager’s ad hoc English-only rule after six employees at the company’s Southdale Mall store in Edina complained to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) of Minnesota. The workers said a manager allegedly threatened to fire them if they spoke “even one word” of Somali on the job …

DNR chief hits the trail

10/14/2008

Col. Mike Hamm, head of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Enforcement Division, retired in September amid speculation that he was about to be fired …

Michigan SEIU official on leave in wake of L.A. allegations

10/10/2008

Rickman Jackson, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Michigan, has taken a voluntary leave of absence during an investigation into questionable financial dealings at the Los Angeles SEIU chapter …

Independent contractor tanks firm

10/10/2008

For five years, Eric McAlpine worked on an independent contractor basis as a bookkeeper for American Titleworks. During that period, he stole a staggering $800,000 in checks from real estate buyers and sellers and banks, plus almost $1.5 million from escrow accounts …

New law: Employers must review outside investigators’ work

10/10/2008

In May 2008, Michigan enacted the Professional Investigator Licensure Act. The act has a significant impact on how employers can conduct background checks and investigations. A violation of the act is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than four years or a fine of not more than $5,000, or both …

Are we allowed to do anything that limits political expression at work?

10/10/2008

Q. Some union employees are wearing buttons and T-shirts as well as posting signs advocating presidential candidates. At first it was not bothering anyone, but now it has gotten out of hand. Is there anything I can do to prevent employees from exhibiting their political views in the workplace? …

Investigate, follow up on all harassment cases

10/08/2008

Employees who complain about sexual or other kinds of harassment shouldn’t be left to wonder whether their complaints are being investigated. Employers should apply sound investigation procedures and then follow up with the employee who came forward to let her know the result. That’s true even if the company isn’t going to take any action …

No kid gloves needed: Discipline OK after employee complains

10/08/2008

Employees who complain about harassment or discrimination often mistakenly believe they are automatically protected from discipline. They’ve heard employers can’t “retaliate” against them for complaining. That’s true to a point. But that doesn’t mean that those employees get automatic immunity from any pre-existing workplace performance or behavior problems …

Don’t fall into post-complaint retaliation trap

10/07/2008

Employees who file discrimination complaints are protected from retaliation. That doesn’t mean they’re immune from being punished if they break rules. Employers can and should take appropriate disciplinary action against them. The key is a careful and deliberate approach, devoid of emotion …