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HR Management

Follow the certification trail when you suspect employee is gaming medical leave

01/06/2012
When asked to provide FMLA certification of their serious health condition from a health care provider, some employees may realize they can’t. One answer? Fake it. What’s an employer to do? There are several approaches you can take.

Worker makes threats? That’s a firing offense

01/06/2012

Some employees are simply difficult to manage. They start argu­­ments and may see harassment or discrimination everywhere. But sometimes they cross a line, implying they could get violent. How you handle their complaints can spell the difference between winning and losing a lawsuit.

How to help disabled employees deal with emergencies

01/05/2012
A major focus of emergency planning concerns how to help people with disabilities. However, employers must remember that federal laws may restrict what employers can do in emergencies.

2012 enforcement trends in employment law: hiring and safety

01/05/2012
We’re now well into the first quarter of the year and already a few trends are becoming apparent in the way the federal government will enforce labor and employment laws in 2012. Two significant em­­phases will be hiring discrimination and workplace safety.

Can a dress code apply to just one employee?

01/05/2012
Q. Can we set a dress code policy that bars visible tattoos and multiple piercing on our receptionist but not other workers who have less public contact?

Unhappy employee? Carefully track complaints

01/05/2012

You know this employee—the one who’s never happy and always finds something to complain about. It may be tempting to ignore repeated complaints, but that’s probably a mistake. Carefully document all her gripes. Those records could come in handy later if she files a lawsuit.

The HR I.Q. Test: January ’12

01/04/2012
Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, compensation and benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz.

HR salaries: It pays to specialize

01/03/2012
Organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of human resources and its strategic role in helping recruit, develop, and reward talent. In turn, salaries and the opportunity to earn incentives have increased for HR professionals, according to a report by Culpepper Compensation Surveys & Services. Here is Culpepper’s anaylsis of the report …

Small tech budget? Try tapping into HR apps

01/03/2012

Human resources departments with small budgets can turn to a growing variety of free and low-cost mobile and web-based applications to increase efficiency and cut costs. Here’s a sampling of what’s available:

Now’s the time to bullet-proof your employee handbook

12/31/2011
An employee handbook can be the foundation of employee performance and a shield against lawsuits, or it can be a ticking time bomb that confuses employees and strips away your legal defenses. It all depends on how well it’s written and put to use. Set aside an hour this week to review your handbook.