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Employee Relations

You Shouldn’t Tie FMLA Leave to Workers’ Evaluation Date

10/01/2003

Q. Our FMLA policy says that if employees take leaves of absence under FMLA for more than seven days, their annual review date is moved back for the amount of time they were out. Is this policy lawful? —S.H., Maryland

Focus on employee retention now; don’t wait for economic rebirth

10/01/2003
HR professionals are gearing up for an expected wave of turnover as the job market recovers and workers split for better opportunities.
Fifty-six percent of HR pros say it’s extremely …

To claim religious bias, worker must first voice need for accommodation

09/01/2003
A person’s religion is not like his sex or race, something obvious from a glance. That’s why Title VII imposes a duty on workers to provide fair warning of any employment …

Foster high-impact training on a low budget

09/01/2003
Surprising fact: Although U.S. companies spend billions on formal training programs, as much as 70 percent of all workplace learning takes place informally on the job and during shift changes, says …

Involvement, not psychic ability, is your duty under the ADA

09/01/2003
When it comes to establishing “reasonable accommodations” for disabled employees, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) puts the burden squarely on employees’ shoulders to speak up about their needs for accommodation. …

Dump strict language policy; EEOC cracks down

09/01/2003
If your company requires employees to speak English at all times (even lunch hours and breaks), drop that policy now. Such broad English-only rules violate Title VII.
And even if …

Don’t let ticked-off co-workers shoot the messenger (you)

09/01/2003
Issue: How to stay calm and collected while handling complaints from angry employees.
Benefit: Deflect anger without taking the blame … or adding stress to your day …

Ask on-Leave employees to tell you when they’ll return

09/01/2003

Q. Is it legal to require that employees on FMLA leave report to us regularly on their plans to return to work? —P.R., New York

Dump strict English-only policy; EEOC cracks down

09/01/2003
Issue: Requiring employees to speak English can be legally risky.
Risk: Overly broad or misguided policies can trigger a national-origin discrimination complaint …

Spot check your workplace for offensive material

09/01/2003
The EEOC is suing a Pennsylvania steel plant for condoning sexual harassment by allowing offensive pictures, posters and calendars in the office. The lawsuit claims a shipping clerk and other female …