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HR Management

Apply zero-tolerance policy on workplace violence across the board

04/19/2010

Many employers have adopted so-called zero-tolerance rules prohibiting any kind of violence at work. The reason: Getting rid of violent employees is crucial to maintaining a safe work environment. But be careful how you enforce the rule. If you ever make exceptions, you’re asking for a lawsuit.

Use proactive measures to stop bias lawsuits

04/19/2010

Sometimes, all it takes to stop a potential lawsuit based on a supervisor’s poor behavior is a timely warning. Take, for example, what might happen if a subordinate believed her supervisor was targeting her for poor treatment because of her race. If HR takes a strong stance and persuades the supervisor to change her approach, then a potential lawsuit may dissolve into nothing.

Labor on the rise: Review your solicitation & distribution rules

04/19/2010

Unions are stepping up their organizing activity, and smart employers are preparing by making sure their rules on solicitation, distribution and access to private property meet legal requirements. If you don’t have a “no solicitation/no distribution” policy, adopt one now. It can help regulate two types of conduct that unions depend on when trying to organize a workplace.

Look for these 5 qualities when choosing a wellness provider

04/19/2010
Looking for a vendor to start or take over your organization’s wellness program? U.S. Preventive Medicine offers a five-item shopping list to guide your decision:

Lowe’s to offer free employee health screening

04/15/2010
Home improvement giant Lowe’s is offering free health screenings to its employees. Lowe’s partnerships with health care providers mean employees will be able to get free checks of their blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, waist size, hip size, weight, height, body fat percentage and body-mass index.

Follow these best practices for tracking initial discrimination complaints

04/15/2010

Smart employers carefully track complaints to show that they respond quickly to alleged discrimination and treat it seriously. Done properly, a tracking system gives you ammunition if you ever need it in court. Here are some best practices for handling complaints:

OSHA claims Illinois Central railroaded whistle-blower

04/15/2010

In a case involving retaliation against an employee who reported a workplace injury, OSHA has won a judgment against the Illinois Central Railroad. The railroad investigated the reported injury—and then fired the man who reported it.

What are our obligations to prevent employees from accessing Internet porn at work?

04/15/2010
Q. All of our employees have Internet access at their workstations. We have heard rumors that several employees have been visiting pornographic and other inappropriate web sites, and displaying and disseminating objectionable material to others in the workplace. Even though we have not received a formal complaint, do we have an obligation to address this now? What steps can we take to avoid these problems?

Employees destroyed evidence? You can use it against them

04/15/2010
Most employers know they aren’t allowed to destroy evidence (including e-mail, other electronic communications and records) when a lawsuit is imminent. But what about when an employee who is about to sue the employer destroys evidence? Employers can use that destruction to their advantage in a lawsuit.

Is it time to restore your 401(k) match?

04/15/2010
Eighty percent of employers that stopped contributing to employees’ 401(k)s in 2009 plan to restore company matches by the end of this year, according to Hewitt Associates. To make it easier for employees to amass adequate retirement savings, Hewitt recommends four steps employers can take: