• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

HR Management

Exit interviews: Use them to cut turnover, unveil legal risks

12/01/2004
THE LAW. While you’re not required to conduct exit interviews with departing employees, federal employment laws do govern how you must handle certain information heard during such meetings.
For …

Insist on fluent English only if job requires it

12/01/2004
It’s clear that you can require bank tellers and phone salespeople to speak fluent English. But can you make the same demand of a construction worker or dishwasher?
In many …

You can offer, but not force, light duty as an option for FMLA leave

12/01/2004
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows certain employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year. But, as the following case shows, you can …

Offhand gripe to co-worker can trigger retaliation protection

12/01/2004
Make sure you train employees how to lodge work-related complaints with the company. The benefit: A clear complaint procedure provides a defense if employees lodge informal complaints outside of your process. …

Take harassment training seriously; more states mandate it

12/01/2004
Smart organizations have hosted sexual-harassment training for years. But now that California has joined the list of states that mandate such training, your state may be next.
The California law …

‘Tis the season for charity, but beware violating ‘No solicitation’ policy

12/01/2004
It’s common this time of year to receive charitable requests to help schools, the homeless, the needy, etc. The requests may come from outsiders or even among co-workers. Not a problem, …

Govt. Rarely Requires In-House ‘Sick Area’

12/01/2004

Q. Is our company required to provide a couch or cot on the premises in the event that an employee becomes ill? Are there any laws that dictate safety or health reasons for doing this? —V.A., Ohio

Rehiring ex-employees? Be wary of hidden legal risks

12/01/2004
Issue: Many organizations rebounding from the economic slump are rehiring former employees.
Risk: You face special legal dangers when bringing back people who were laid off, fired or quit on …

You can enforce no-weapon policy in parking lot, too

12/01/2004
A recent court ruling shows that your organization has the right to enforce its anti-violence policy anywhere on its property, not just within its walls. The case: Security cameras caught three …

What are your services worth? More than you think

12/01/2004
Issue: The 2003 upturn in HR salaries picked up pace in 2004.
Benefit: Such robust pay growth provides more bargaining power with your boss and on the open market.
…