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HR Management

Make sure job descriptions, handbook include reasonable work expectations

04/23/2008
To win a discrimination lawsuit, employees must be able to show they met their employers’ reasonable expectations. If they weren’t doing their jobs, then it’s difficult to blame any adverse employment action on discrimination. That’s one reason job descriptions and employee handbooks should include examples of reasonable expectations …

Gender barriers falling? Ensure equal treatment for both sexes

04/23/2008
Some jobs are still dominated by either men or women, and those employees may not welcome with open arms the first member of the opposite sex. Before dumping the new employee into the workplace, make sure you do everything you can to ensure equal treatment in all important aspects of the job. Otherwise, you may find yourself facing a lawsuit over unequal treatment …

Nonprofits can’t afford this kind of volunteer help

04/22/2008
Sherri Sullivan, a volunteer treasurer at the Madison County Humane Society, was charged with stealing $65,000 of shelter funds to buy jewelry and makeup …

What HR pros should know about trade secret misappropriation

04/22/2008
When any valued employee leaves, the company experiences a loss. The loss is greater, however, when the former employee departs to work for a competitor and begins using the company’s confidential information or trade secrets. HR has a key role to play in protecting a company’s proprietary information. Here’s how to do it …

Lack of screening did not prove negligence in truck accident

04/22/2008
In September 2004, Martin King and Tobias Ledzema were both driving tractor-trailers in Lake County when Ledzema’s trailer struck King’s. King sued Ledzema’s employer, Fierro Trucking, based in Illinois, alleging negligent hiring and supervision …

A bomb or … a vegetable?

04/22/2008
A bomb squad in Fort Wayne spent several hours investigating a suspicious package sent to the Haller & Colvin law firm. Employees opened the package to find a blue gift bag. They called authorities …

Imperial Sugar refinery blast was preventable, agency says

04/21/2008
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board member William Wright believes better housekeeping could have prevented the explosion at the Imperial Sugar plant in Port Wentworth that killed 12 workers in February …

Cops: Man seeks revenge, kills 2 employees, bystander

04/21/2008
Police say Charles Johnston went to Doctors Hospital in Columbus on March 28 armed with guns stuffed into his coat and pants pockets, looking for nurse Peter Wright …

Is the term ‘probationary period’ dangerous?

04/18/2008
Q. Our existing employee handbook includes a probationary period for newly hired employees. In revising the handbook, should we consider omitting this provision due to the possibility that we could be altering the at-will employment relationship?

To pay or not to pay summer interns

04/18/2008
Q. Our company is considering hiring student interns this summer. Are we required to pay them under California law? …