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

HR Management

NLRB settlement suggests employee Facebook posts are protected

02/08/2011
The National Labor Relations Board has settled with a company that fired an employee for posting negative comments about a boss on her Facebook page. The case seems to signal that employee communications that happen via social media constitute protected activity under federal law. Does your social media policy go too far?

New survey reveals the 10 most depressing jobs

02/08/2011
Medical specialists employed at nursing homes and those who treat children are the most likely workers to report major episodes of depression (not just people who hate their jobs), according to a new study by Health magazine.

Play it straight: When employee’s complaints become irrational, stick with sound procedures

02/07/2011

After a discrimination complaint has been found to be without merit, most reasonable employees accept their employer’s conclusions and go back to doing their jobs. But some become bitter, suspecting that HR and management are out to get them and interpreting every subsequent interaction as evidence of a hostile conspiracy. When this happens, the worst thing you can do is play into the fear.

How to prevent succession planning from triggering discrimination complaints

02/04/2011
Many companies design succession plans so they can spot the next generation of leaders early and develop current employees to their full potential. If your organization is involved in such a process, step back and look: Does everyone who is tapped for special treatment come from the same race or gender? Or does the chosen group exclude older workers or the disabled?

Hand-held phone ban for commercial drivers?

02/03/2011
In 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration prohibited commercial truck and bus drivers from texting while driving. Last month, the agency proposed banning such drivers from reaching for, holding or dialing a cell phone while operating a commercial vehicle.

Safety for all: Ensure evacuation plans comply with the ADA

02/02/2011
Although we usually think of the ADA in terms of helping disabled people perform their jobs with or without accommodations, the law also has important workplace safety implications. Under the ADA, you must make sure your emergency evacuation plans take into account the needs of disabled employees. Some issues to consider:

In discharge meeting, follow 2-and-1 rule: Two company reps, one reason for termination

02/02/2011

Unfortunately, lawsuits often come down to one person’s word against another’s. That’s powerful incentive for a company rule requiring at least two managers to participate in a termination meeting. Also, decide ahead of time the exact rationale for the discharge and then stick with that reason.

I-9 issues: To copy or not to copy employee ID documents? (and 4 other I-9 problems that cause employer headaches)

02/01/2011
It is remarkable that a seemingly simple, one-page form—the Form I-9—can cause so many headaches. But who says government forms are easy, much less an immigration-related form? Here are the most common mistakes employers make in filling out the Employment Eligibility Verification form.

Personnel Legal Alert

02/01/2011
Dear Personnel Legal Alert Subscriber, We are pleased to announce that Personnel Legal Alert has been acquired by Business Management Daily, a longtime HR newsletter publisher based in Virginia. Business Management Daily publishes plain-English, actionable advice to high-performers at more than 100,000 organizations of all sizes. In place of your twice-monthly service, you will now […]

Payroll Legal Alert

02/01/2011
Dear Payroll Legal Alert Subscriber, We are pleased to announce that Payroll Legal Alert has been acquired by Business Management Daily, a longtime HR newsletter publisher based in Virginia. Business Management Daily publishes plain-English, actionable advice to high-performers at more than 100,000 organizations of all sizes. Please note that both your current price, and the […]