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HR Management

Should we limit political talk at work?

07/18/2008

Q. With the upcoming presidential election, our employees have spent more time talking politics and debating candidates and their positions. Do we have an obligation to limit or prevent such conversations in the workplace? …

Are employee assistance programs required?

07/18/2008

Q. I understand that many companies offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) as an added benefit for employees who may have drug or alcohol abuse problems. Are we required by law to do so? …

Recoup training costs, but beware doing so with last paycheck

07/18/2008
Employers can and should get applicants and employees to agree to pay back training costs if they depart before the company gets fair value. But collecting the money can be tricky. You can’t, for example, withhold the money out of a final paycheck if that move takes the employee’s hourly wage below the minimum allowed by law …

Must you pay hourly staff for BlackBerry time?

07/17/2008
The answer isn’t clear, as ABC News recently learned. The media company said nonexempt writers wouldn’t be paid for those minutes spent checking their office-issued BlackBerry devices after regular work hours. But their union objected …

Retaining Old Org Charts: Why … and for How Long?

07/15/2008

Memories fade and employees come and go. That’s why it’s crucial for HR to keep certain records for future reference. Among these records are organizational charts showing who had supervisory and other authority over other employees. Why? Lawsuits over lost promotions or firings can take years before they actually go to trial …

Simplify Employee Self-Reviews: A 3-Question Template

07/15/2008

An important—but often overlooked—step in performance appraisals is to ask employees to grade themselves. But don’t just give them the same appraisal form used by supervisors. Instead, use a separate form that allows them to recap their achievements, identify shortcomings and initiate discussions regarding their development.  A good self-evaluation form asks these three core questions … 

Panthers employee sent to penalty box over critical e-Mail

07/14/2008
After the Florida Panthers traded team captain Olli Jokinen to the Phoenix Coyotes, some season ticket holders sent the National Hockey League team irate e-mails questioning the move. One Panthers employee tried to rationalize the decision with an e-mail that described Jokinen as a skater who played “with little heart or passion” …

Investigate even when employee complains belatedly

07/14/2008

When it comes to reporting sexual harassment, employees have an obligation to use their employer’s complaint process, even if doing so may be uncomfortable. If they don’t, they may lose the right to sue for a hostile work environment. But what happens if an employee has tolerated mild harassment for years without complaining? …

The dastaar worked in ‘Aladdin’

07/14/2008
Musician Sukhbir Channa has filed a $1 million class-action lawsuit against Walt Disney World, claiming the park denied him employment because his Sikh religion requires him to wear a beard and a dastaar, or turban …

What you need to know about Florida’s new Guns at Work Law

07/14/2008
Last April, the Florida Legislature passed the Preservation and Protection of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of 2008. Many call it by a much less official name: the Guns at Work Law. The law expands employees’ rights to transport lawfully registered firearms in their vehicles even if they are traveling to work …