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Employee Relations

Alert low-Income workers to overlooked tax credits

04/01/2007

Some of your organization’s employees may be eligible for a larger tax refund without knowing it. You can do them a huge favor (and earn some good will) by introducing them to those tax savings …

Make sure employees know about internal job openings

04/01/2007

It pays to make every effort to publicize job openings to your current staff and make clear how employees should apply. If you don’t, you face potential discrimination claims …

Cell phone policies: Don’t have one? Dial one up today

04/01/2007

The best defense to a cell-phone liability claim is a comprehensive electronic communications devices policy …

Giving and receiving feedback: 8 important do’s & don’ts

04/01/2007

For some bosses, “Good work” or “That stunk” is all the feedback they offer employees in a day. But the employees crave a whole lot more …

Total-Comp Statements: More Important Than Ever

04/01/2007

Regularly remind employees of the value of your benefits package by distributing total-compensation statements every six months. Organizations that communicate such information can boost loyalty and retention, even when their benefits aren’t the very best …

Toledo firefighters face termination for illegal tapings

04/01/2007

The Toledo fire chief has recommended terminating three female firefighters after discovering they had secretly taped workplace conversations …

Shootings spark bias lawsuits by white officers in Cleveland

04/01/2007

A federal court jury recently awarded $800,000 to a white police officer, finding that the city of Cleveland racially discriminated against him after he shot a black youth in a 2001 arrest attempt …

Stray From Progressive-Discipline Policy at Your Own Risk

04/01/2007

If you have a progressive-discipline policy in your employee handbook, it’s legally wise to follow it carefully with all employees. If you deviate from it and fire a worker quickly, be prepared to provide a good reason …

Quick fix can help avoid harassment liability

04/01/2007

Q. One of our male supervisors fired what we in HR thought was a poor-performing female employee. During the exit interview, the terminated employee told us that her supervisor fired her because he was sexually harassing her and she threatened to report him if it didn’t stop. It turned out that her claim was legitimate. We immediately called her back to work.

We thought we had dodged a bullet but, unfortunately, we’ve been contacted by her attorney, who threatened a lawsuit unless we agree to settle her claim for a lot of money. We will contact an attorney to represent us, but we want to know if the fact that we brought her right back to work is going to make a difference? —L.W.

Two Philly officers file lawsuit citing lax response to stalker

04/01/2007

Two married police officers in Philadelphia’s K-9 Unit have sued the police department for allowing a female chief inspector to harass and stalk them for more than a year …