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HR Management

Docking pay for snow-day absences: When is it legal?

02/04/2024
The snow’s coming down pretty good and an exempt employee calls to say she can’t make it in today because her car is stuck. Can you deduct a full day’s pay from her salary for that missed day? What if she’s non-exempt? What if you close work because of bad weather? Here’s guidance—and a handy flowchart—to help you make the call.

Get written acknowledgment for every missed shift

02/02/2024
Employers that have clear rules and apply them fairly seldom lose termination lawsuits—if they can prove their employees understood the rules. One of the best ways to demonstrate that is by consistently having workers acknowledge that they broke a rule. Do this at the time you discipline the worker, pointing out what rule they broke. A brief written disciplinary notice with a space for the employee’s signature should to the trick.

Know the limits on banning weapons at work

02/02/2024
Employers are required to keep their employees safe at work. To that end, many ban weapons of any kind on company premises. But depending on your location, that may or may not be permissible.

Avoid 5 words and phrases that undercut your ability, credibility

01/31/2024
As an HR pro, what you say matters. Careless language can give the impression that you don’t know what you’re doing or can’t be believed. According to an article in Fast Company, you should avoid these five words and phrases.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, review policies addressing sexual harassment

01/31/2024
With February comes Valentine’s Day, as good an excuse as any to review your company communications policies so employees understand there are limits on how, where and when they can embrace the spirit of romance at work.

CEOs optimistic about the economy, worried about their own companies

01/29/2024
The proportion of CEOs who believe global economic growth will improve over the next 12 months has more than doubled in the last year. At the same time, the proportion of CEOs concerned about their organizations’ long-term business viability has risen to 45%.

What HR needs to know about the coming Supreme Court ruling that could upend feds’ regulatory authority

01/29/2024
The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 17 held oral arguments in two cases questioning the authority of federal agencies to interpret the laws Congress passes. The arguments never once mentioned employment law, but the court’s ruling, expected by June, could very well upend the government’s ability to regulate wage-and-hour practices, set FMLA rules, enforce anti-discrimination laws and oversee dozens of matters affecting HR.

Plan now for the year ahead: 9 trends that will shape HR in 2024

01/24/2024
In today’s business environment, HR leaders must strategically position their organizations to attract and retain top talent while achieving operational goals. The Gartner business advisory firm says these are the most significant trends HR professionals must be prepared to embrace this year.

How to properly train a new employee

01/24/2024
Good training doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of careful preparation and a well-developed supervisory system.

4 tips for writing better emails

01/24/2024
Are your email messages not getting the response you’d like? Maybe some aren’t getting any response at all! Consider these four tips to improve your results.