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HR Management

HR CSI: Solving ‘he said/she said’ mysteries

12/04/2013
What do you do when faced with two employees who have entirely different views about how an incident occurred? Such contrasting accounts—“No I didn’t!”, “Yes, he did!”—can sometimes leave HR professionals paralyzed and afraid to pull the trigger on discipline.

Should we use arbitration agreements to help resolve employment disputes?

12/03/2013
In California, companies adopting arbitration agreements face a number of difficult decisions in crafting their agreements to ensure that they will be enforceable while also maximizing the benefits of arbitration.

Received EEOC subpoena? Respond now!

12/03/2013
Here’s an important warning: If the EEOC mails your company a subpoena for information about a pending investigation, you have just days to object—or you’ll lose the right to do so. That’s why you absolutely need a clear process for immediately getting the subpoena to your attorney.

The HR I.Q. Test: December ’13

12/03/2013
Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, comp & benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz …

7 questions to ask about your year-end bonus plan

12/03/2013
If your company will hand out holiday bonuses this year, do it with purpose. Here are seven questions to ask before you start writing the checks.

ACA SHOPs postponed one year, HHS urges using brokers instead

12/02/2013
Small business owners won’t be able go online to buy health insurance for their employees until November 2014. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services suggests doing it the old-fashioned way—through a broker.

What steps should we take to ensure supervisors issue consistent discipline?

12/02/2013
Q. We are having a hard time keeping discipline consistent between supervisors. To promote consistency, upper management would like to implement a new discipline policy setting out what disciplinary steps should be followed. Do you recommend this?

Stormy weather: How to pay when Old Man Winter causes absences

12/02/2013

When harsh winter weather bumps up against the FLSA, the result can be a blizzard of pay problems for you. Employees often come in late, leave early or miss work altogether. How should you count their hours—and their pay? Here’s a flowchart that breaks down your options.

Ensure computer policy is clear: No using tech for nonbusiness purposes

12/02/2013
Here’s good news you can use to warn employees against misusing company computers and other technology for their own benefit, to compete or to commit fraud: Employees can’t argue that because they received the equipment to use, they are authorized to access information for purposes unrelated to business.

Avoid needless reference to culture differences

12/02/2013
There is a fine line between a rational discussion of cultural differences and stereotyping. If you are tempted to educate employees on appropriate workplace behavior, stick with a straightforward description of what behaviors you want to see, not how they differ from other cultural norms.