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Employee Relations

Can we talk? A guide to political expression in the workplace

09/18/2008

The presidential campaign has everyone talking politics, and inevitably a lot of that talking takes place at work. As the campaign season moves toward the general election, many employers are re-examining their workplace policies concerning political activities and speech. Evidence suggests employers must educate employees concerning workplace political speech …

You can fire high performers just because of poor attitude

09/17/2008
We’ve all encountered the type: employees who are smart—and know it. They work hard and produce results. But they are so arrogant, so abrasive and so insistent that their way is the right way that they kill morale. You don’t have to keep them on just because they meet or even exceed business goals …

What’s Working: 6 Hot Compensation & Benefits Best Practices

09/16/2008

On-site scuba lessons, desks on wheels, employee shopping sprees and unlimited time off are just a few of the ways innovative employers recruit, reward, retain and refresh workers. See if any of these best practices—some simple, some extravagant—inspire you to take a fresh look at your company’s perks.

Another worry when complaints get to court: Retaliation may be criminal conspiracy

09/15/2008
Here’s another thing to worry about when an employee testifies on behalf of someone suing the company: Retaliating against that employee by punishing him with additional or new work requirements or a poor evaluation may lead to federal criminal conspiracy charges …

Clayton school board members sacked for ethics law violations

09/15/2008
Gov. Sonny Perdue issued an executive order to remove four members of the Clayton County School Board and to confirm the removal of two others after the school system’s accreditation was revoked on Aug. 28 …

Post this story to curb employee credit card abuse

09/15/2008
Donna Gamble, of Marietta, whose purchase card abuses cost the Georgia Institute of Technology more than $300,000, has been sentenced to two years and eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay full restitution to the university …

Document poor work to make sure firing sticks

09/15/2008
Jerilyn Lucas, a bank branch manager, seemed to be in over her head. She struggled with basic operational matters. Her staff began complaining that she frequently missed work. Lucas’ supervisors repeatedly warned her about her performance. When the bank eventually fired her , she sued …

That wasn’t in the job description

09/12/2008
When 20-year-old Spencer Taylor showed up for the latest Batman feature “The Dark Knight” in full Joker disguise, employees at a movie theater in Three Rivers took him for an unusually enthusiastic fan. But when he started making real-life mayhem in the lobby, theater employees had to subdue him until police arrived …

HR Must Referee Employees’ McCain-Obama Debates: Know the Law

09/09/2008
John McCain and Barack Obama aren’t the only people embroiled in political debates this fall. So are some of your employees. And their water-cooler conversations may turn especially heated in the next few weeks. How HR handles political speech may spell the difference between workplace civility and civil war.

Remember the WARN Act when making reductions in force

09/09/2008
During difficult economic times, businesses consider various cost-cutting measures—and shrinking the company’s workforce often tops the list. But failing to give employees adequate notice of layoffs can quickly turn a cost-savings initiative into a significant liability …