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HR Management

Cigarette giant to ban employees from smoking in most areas

12/22/2014
Starting Jan. 1, employees of the company that makes Camel and Pall Mall cigarettes will not be allowed to smoke at work.

Turn your next meeting into a walkabout

12/19/2014
Sitting around a conference table feels nice, but there might be a better way to get creative results.

Providing References to Other Employers

12/19/2014

HR Law 101: Despite all the risks, providing other employers with references about your former employees is a good business practice. If you refused to provide references, eventually you would compromise your ability to find out about applicants you’re considering hiring …

It’s just what I always wanted! The season’s most unusual office gifts

12/18/2014
There’s no party like a workplace holiday party, because workplace holiday parties … can be awkward. CareerBuilder’s annual holiday survey asked workers to share the most unusual gifts they’ve received from a co-worker during the holiday season.

Severance Pay

12/18/2014

HR Law 101: Severance policies are generally considered employee benefit plans entitled to ERISA protection, many courts have ruled. For employers, that means conforming to ERISA’s recordkeeping and disclosure requirements …

Accommodating Medical Marijuana

12/18/2014

HR Law 101: Currently, 23 states have legalized the use of medical marijuana. Whether employers in those states must accommodate legal medical marijuana use depends on how courts interpret state law.

How to draw the line between boss and friend

12/16/2014
The best managers walk a fine line by earning the respect of their team without going overboard and befriending everyone. Here’s how you can strike the proper balance.

5 elements of a social media policy that works

12/15/2014
While social media can improve an organization’s image and communication, it can also present risks to companies that don’t have a clear policy defining how employees may use it.

NLRB says employees can use company email to discuss pay, union organizing

12/15/2014

If your organization has a blanket policy that prohibits workers from using the organization’s email for personal matters, it’s time to revise it. The National Labor Relations Board ruled that employees have the right to use their employer’s email system (during off-duty time) to engage in legally protected communications, including discussing wages and even organizing a union.

Email/Internet Usage

12/15/2014

HR Law 101: Employers have any number of legitimate reasons to monitor employees’ email and Internet usage. Beyond personal productivity issues, you risk significant loss should an employee download a virus or other damaging software or engage in illegal activity conducted on company computers …