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Employee Relations

Second Opinion on Fitness-for-Duty Certificate

01/01/2007

Q. We have an employee returning from FMLA leave. His physician issued a fitness-for-duty certificate, but we question the worker’s ability to perform his old job because the length of his absence was too short for him to recover completely. Further, the fitness-for-duty certificate simply states that he is “able” to work, without addressing his specific job duties. Can we send him to another physician for a second fitness-for-duty examination? —A.L.

Consensus Decisions Can Deflect Firing-Bias Claims

01/01/2007

One of the best ways to make sure a termination decision sticks is to adopt a consensus approach to the decision-making …

You Needn’t Accommodate Some ‘Serious’ Ailments

01/01/2007

While the ADA says organizations must provide reasonable accommodations to people with qualifying disabilities, be aware that many apparently serious conditions aren’t limiting enough to be considered disabilities …

Check employees’ work history if they claim a disability

01/01/2007

Just because a doctor sets a physical restriction on an employee, that doesn’t mean the employee is “disabled” and entitled to special ADA accommodations …

Get organized: 6 ways to zip through e-mail clutter

01/01/2007

Some people are deleters and some are hoarders. Either way, you can learn from these e-mail efficiency tips …

Texas workers more confident, which may lead to turnover

01/01/2007

Texas workers are becoming more confident in their ability to find a new job, according to the Spherion Employment Report, a monthly survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Spherion Corp. …

Hiring the hearing impaired: Home Depot sets model program

01/01/2007

Atlanta-based Home Depot recently completed a yearlong implementation of its Deaf2Work program in Minnesota, in collaboration with that state’s employment department …

New govt. guidance on protecting staff from avian flu

12/01/2006

Dire warnings of avian flu outbreaks have some employers and employees spooked. So OSHA just unveiled new safety and health guidance on occupational exposure to avian flu and practical recommendations on ways to avoid infection …

Lighten your HR load by using supervisors wisely

12/01/2006
Say you’re part of an overworked two- or three-person HR department that struggles to keep up with basic administrative duties. Solution: Use supervisors to assist in HR, but be smart in what you choose to delegate.

How to talk to young employees about retirement planning

12/01/2006

Your 20-something employees are more worried about repaying student loans and moving into their first homes than saving for retirement. So convincing them to contribute to a 401(k) is often a tough sell. The solution: Make your pitch relevant to their lifestyles …