• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

HR Management

New case shows legal risks of ‘papering’ fired employee’s file

04/15/2013
When preparing to terminate a worker, you want to be able to produce the most solid documentation to defend a potential lawsuit. Just make sure supervisors know to document employee performance and behavior at the time it occurs—not just before or after the employee leaves the building.

Any downsides to a no-fault attendance policy?

04/11/2013
Q. We are thinking about implementing a no-fault attendance policy. We hope it will provide clearer absenteeism rules and make it easier for managers to enforce. Are there any downsides?

State moves closer to mandatory nurse/patient ratios

04/11/2013
A bill requiring hospitals and other health care facilities to meet target nurse-to-patient ratios has made it out of a Minnesota House of Repre­­sentatives committee. The Standards of Care Act requires hospitals to meet staffing levels recommended by professional nursing specialty organizations.

Effective HR document and file management for supervisors

04/10/2013
“Out with the old, in with the new!” chant managers intent on a serious spring cleaning. In your quest for a clean slate, you may dispose of documents you shouldn’t—documents that should be forwarded to HR so they can be added to an employee’s official personnel file, which may substantiate a need for family and medical leave, etc. Here are pointers to help you decide which documents to retain and which to pitch.

Chrysler ‘academy’ teaches core values to employees

04/10/2013
Chrysler Group doesn’t leave employee productivity, improving quality and safety or reducing manufacturing waste to chance. It sends employees to school to learn how to master the three principles of what Chrysler calls World Class Manufacturing (WCM).

The HR I.Q. Test: April ’13

04/01/2013
Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, comp & benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz …

Appeals court upholds whistle-blower’s award

03/29/2013
Federal appeals courts are becoming more sympathetic to employees who report workplace dangers. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals has backed a plaintiff who says he suffered retaliation for claiming he was traumatized by a workplace accident.

After Yahoo and Best Buy bans, what’s the real deal on flex?

03/22/2013

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer recently announced that employees who had telecommuted must now return to their cubicles at the struggling company’s headquarters. Before long, electronics retailer Best Buy followed suit.

Can we make flu shots mandatory?

03/20/2013
Q. Because this season’s flu outbreak was so severe, next fall we would like to require all our employees to get a flu vaccine. We hope this will cut down on employee absences during flu season. Would such a policy be lawful?

‘Cyberloafing’ is an epidemic: Add teeth to your policy

03/15/2013
The bad news: Up to 80% of employees’ time spent on the Internet has nothing to do with their work. Worse news: Having just a policy won’t deter them.