Discipline / Investigations

When discipline is called for, keep personal hostility from tainting process

03/24/2014

Here’s a reminder for supervisors who participate in disciplinary decisions: Tell them to keep their personal feelings about the employee to themselves and resist the urge to bring in stereotypes. No one, for example, should comment on the employee’s nationality, national origin or other protected characteristics.

Never hesitate to make legit rule changes

03/17/2014

Have you found that some of your disciplinary rules are too lenient? Don’t hold back on stiffening your rules just because you fear the first employees subject to harsher penalties might sue you.

North Carolina SBI plans probe of Scotland County Sheriff

03/13/2014

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has announced plans to investigate the Scotland County Sheriff’s office, but it’s been mum about the investigation’s focus. At least one news report has linked the probe to the office’s practice of requiring deputies to moonlight for a local warfare training company.

Bill would target nurses who dodge drug diversion

02/27/2014

Following reports of numerous Minnesota nurses continuing to practice despite failing to abide by the state’s substance abuse diversion requirements, State Rep. Tina Liebling has introduced legislation to require regulators to suspend noncompliant nurses.

Managers commit 60% of all workplace misconduct

02/18/2014

In a poll of 6,400 U.S. workers, 41% said they have observed misconduct on the job. Then they named the culprits.

When is it OK to punish by docking pay?

02/13/2014

Q. May I dock an employee’s pay as a penalty for disciplinary infractions?

Smell alcohol on employee’s breath? What to do now

02/07/2014

When you smell alcohol on an employee, or receive reports that an employee smells of alcohol, you need to act fast to protect everyone’s safety—but not so fast that you mishandle the situation. Follow these guidelines.

When porn is ‘research,’ First Amendment may apply

02/07/2014

Some professions in the public sector may benefit from constitutional protections more than other employees.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

02/01/2014

HR Law 101: In recent years, various forms of alternative dispute resolution have gained popularity. Mandatory arbitration in particular is attractive to employers because employees who sign arbitration agreements forfeit their right to sue in federal or state court …

Firing: You don’t have to be right, just honest

01/28/2014

Employees don’t always see eye to eye on discipline, performance appraisals or other workplace issues. But as long as you reasonably believe that your discipline was appropriate or your evaluation was on the money, you have little to fear. Simply put, the employee doesn’t get to second-guess your reasons.