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HR Management

OSHA fines Western Pa. roofer following 2009 fatal fall

03/26/2010

A Pittsburgh-area roofing company must pay more than half a million dollars in federal fines following the accidental death of one of its employees last year. OSHA fined C.A. Franc Construction Co. for failing to protect workers from falling on its job sites.

Hiring bias alert: Beware smoking-gun e-mails

03/26/2010
Remind everyone involved in the hiring process: It’s much better to pick up the phone to discuss a candidate than it is to send an e-mail. E-mails can be recovered (and used as evidence in court); phone calls cannot.

Document and retain evidence that led to firing

03/26/2010
You never know which terminated employee will sue—or how long he might wait to do so. That’s why it’s important to document everything leading up to the termination. Then make it your policy to retain firing-related documents indefinitely.

Base health communication strategies on 5 behavioral quirks

03/19/2010

When researchers at HR consulting giant Towers Watson were compiling new stats on 2010 employer health care costs, they uncovered some fascinating findings from the world of behavioral economics that innovative employers are applying to their health communication efforts. As you look for ways to encourage employees to be active, informed consumers of the health benefits you offer, see how many you can incorporate into your own communication plans.

6 keys to help ‘accidental teleworkers’ keep the work flowing

03/18/2010

When the weather or another emergency turns your employees into accidental telecommuters, your organization will be better off if they’re prepared to work from home. Before the next weather emergency hits, develop systems and start training your employees to work productively from remote locations. Here are guidelines that have worked in organizations around the country:

Babies at work: Morale boost or productivity buster?

03/18/2010

The number of organizations with a babies-at-work benefit has more than doubled to 130 in the past two years, says the Parenting in the Workplace Institute. The key: Set clear guidelines. Find tips for creating a policy at www.theHRSpecialist.com/babies.

New online services give aid to résumé cheaters

03/17/2010

The Internet continues to make HR’s job of verifying résumé claims almost impossible. As job-seekers have become more desperate in the past year, a host of new online services have emerged that help applicants falsify their résumés.

Misconduct inquiries: What workers ask & how to answer

03/17/2010

To conduct misconduct interviews that don’t provide legal ammunition to the employee, come prepared with answers to tough-but-valid questions that employees may ask during the investigation. Here are some of the most difficult questions along with responses that can protect you legally.

Your 10-point checklist for ensuring an NLRA-compliant handbook

03/16/2010
There are many good reasons to regularly review your employee handbook. But here’s another good reason to review and update your policies: A poorly written or overly broad handbook could result in unfair labor practices charges from the National Labor Relations Board. That’s true even if your workforce isn’t unionized.

March Madness! Is it time to crack down on office gambling?

03/16/2010

Once again it’s time for “March Madness.” If your workplace is like many, talk of NCAA tournament picks and the Final Four will be everywhere, as well as bets on the games. While office pools are a lot of fun, they also can present some risk for employers. Consider developing a written policy on workplace gambling to prevent things from getting out of control.