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HR Management

Train managers how to spot bias and take complaints

07/01/2005
Issue: Employers can be liable for sexual harassment if they “knew or should have known” about it but failed to act.
Risk: Courts increasingly say you “know” of harassment once …

Some manager socializing could spark bias lawsuits

07/01/2005
Issue: Supervisors may feel more comfortable with employees from one gender or the other.
Risk: If they allow those relationships to affect their employment decisions, supervisors could run afoul of …

Promote staff volunteerism, but not for firm’s benefit

06/01/2005

Q. Our CEO just implemented a new employee evaluation goal based on their volunteer work throughout the year. The more they volunteer, the higher the points they receive on their review, ultimately increasing their salary. Can we do this without risk? —T.M., Maine

Review all handouts for legal bombshells

06/01/2005
You can’t personally review every book, video or training material that supervisors distribute to employees. But it’s wise to review as much of those materials as possible for appropriateness and legally …

Quiz applicants on basic skills; don’t wait for a national test

06/01/2005
You’ll soon have access to a new nationally recognized test that can help you gauge entry-level applicants’ job readiness. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is spearheading development of the Equipped for …

Google your way to recruiting ‘passive’ job-seekers

06/01/2005
Issue: Forty-four percent of employees are “passive” job-seekers, meaning they might accept a job offer but aren’t actively seeking one.
Benefit: Knowing how to manipulate the Internet to find such …

Choose top training videos with the aid of online ‘critics’

06/01/2005
Issue: You need to occasionally buy training videos/DVDs, but thousands exist and the quality varies greatly.
Benefit: Using a reputable rating service can help you sort out the “Citizen Kanes” …

Dropped your drug testing? You’re not alone

06/01/2005
Workplace drug testing’s popularity has gradually fallen since peaking in 1996, when 81 percent of employers surveyed by the American Management Association (AMA) said they tested. By 2004, that percentage had …

Tighten policy to foil new identity-theft risks

06/01/2005
If your organization hasn’t taken identity theft seriously, here are two good reasons to start now: Starting June 1, federal law requires you to properly dispose
of employee background-check information …

Tighten your record-disposal policy, starting this month

06/01/2005
Issue: Beginning June 1, a new federal law requires you to properly dispose of personally identifiable background-check data.
Risk: One mistake can result in actual damages, up to a $2,500 …