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Employee Relations

What’s the cost of a chair? A lot less than a lawsuit

07/01/2004
Issue: Minor squabbles between employees and supervisors escalating into illegal “discipline.” Risk: If left unchecked, they can escalate, resulting in discrimination or retaliation claims. Action: Use the following case …

Don’t write wishy-washy policies that make it hard for staff to comply

06/01/2004
Your employment policies should never leave employees guessing about how they must comply.
That’s why it’s vital to use concrete terms in your
policies that discuss employee behaviors and …

Federal contractors: Post ‘Beck’ notice in workplace

06/01/2004
The Labor Department issued final rules last month requiring federal contractors to post notices that inform employees of certain union rights under the Supreme Court’s Communi-cation Workers v. Beck case. Essen-tially, …

Avoid liability on investment advice given to staff

06/01/2004
Issue: If your organization offers a retirement plan, it has a legal responsibility for those accounts. Risk: A rash of financial and employee benefit scandals has sparked new legal and …

Here’s more reason to police supervisors’ compliance

06/01/2004
Issue: How much oversight should your organization exert on supervisors who handle potentially violent situations? Risk: Letting one misguided supervisor call the shots …

Don’t wait for a complaint to punish misbehaving staff

06/01/2004
Issue: Some supervisors believe in a “No complaints, no problem” motto. Risk: By ignoring blatant harassment or discrimination, supervisors open the organization to “negligent supervision” lawsuits. Action: Educate supervisors …

Silence pay-related complaints with wise words

06/01/2004
How do the employees at your organization feel about their compensation? If the answer is “Not good,” a bit of explanation from you can calm those troubled waters. Fact: Only 45 …

Notify employees if tracking them via GPS

06/01/2004
A small but growing number of employers use global positioning systems (GPS) to track employees. By 2006, most new cars will include GPS systems, as will cell phones. Advice: You already …

How to handle employee personality conflicts

05/01/2004
Issue: Employee disagreements are often laid at the feet of HR. Risk: Disputes can lower morale, cut productivity and even trigger violence. Action: Follow the following 5-step plan for …

Baseless claims won’t trigger anti-retaliation protection

05/01/2004
While it may be tempting, avoid firing employees in reaction to their in-house complaints or lawsuits, even if you think the charges are without merit. Reason: A jury will likely see …