HR Management

Employee documents: What to keep, what to toss

04/29/2013

Is the paper piling up in your office and in need of a big spring cleaning? Before managers start tossing documents in the circular file, they need to know which employee-related paperwork must be saved—and for how long.

Should I register for online access so I can monitor employee’s social media activity?

04/25/2013

Q. An employee has brought to my attention that another employee seems to be spending much of the workday posting to a social media site … Apparently, the website doesn’t require being someone’s “friend” to see their social media activity. Is it OK if I sign up with the site to monitor his use?

Prepare now for the data breach that will inevitably hit you

04/25/2013

Most companies maintain large amounts of data about their employees, some of which may be considered personally identifiable information. It must be carefully guarded to ensure employee privacy and prevent identity theft. You must understand the relevant laws and your obligations to protect employee data.

4 steps to link variable pay with performance

04/24/2013

Bonuses are back, according to research conducted by the Hay Group. But with a pragmatic nod to today’s austere business environment, employers are taking a hard look at why they’re dishing out variable pay, what they want it to accomplish and how they decide who gets how much.

Operate in several states? Beware arbitration pacts referencing states other than California

04/23/2013

Employers that do business in several states often have a single employee handbook covering all workers at all locations. If that describes your organization, be careful about how you handle details like arbitration agreements.

Telework not working? Repair, don’t reject

04/23/2013

If your organization’s telework program has hit a snag, try repairing it before you abandon it. Otherwise, you could face fallout from unhappy former telecommuters. They’ll either look for another flex-friendly employer or—worse—bring hard feelings with them when they report to the office.

Use chemicals? Heed new training, labeling rules

04/19/2013

OSHA has released two new compliance assistance tools to help employers meet requirements of the agency’s revised Hazard Communication Standard.

Training on a shoestring: 7 ways to trim your costs

04/18/2013

When companies need to cut corners, one of the first things executives slash is the training budget. When that happens, it’s time for HR to get creative. Start by determining which training is must-have and which is nice-to-have.

Can we ban employee T-shirts with strong messages?

04/17/2013

Q. One of our workers often wears T-shirts that have slogans with a strong political bent. Some employees have complained. Is it a violation of employees’ free speech rights to ban such clothing?

In court? Turn over all relevant documents

04/15/2013

Here’s a warning for HR professionals who are reviewing personnel files for use in a lawsuit: Don’t even think about playing games with the judge by failing to hand over everything. For example, if you provide only negative information, chances are a judge won’t be pleased.