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HR Management

Employee ‘odor policy’ must pass the smell test

04/01/2004
Issue: Can you tell an employee to take a bath? Risk: You risk a discrimination claim because, unlike other grooming-policy issues, odor lies in the eye (or nose) of the …

Don’t make new hires wait long to be 401(k)-eligible

04/01/2004
Your competitors are shortening the length of time that new employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan. More than half (51 percent) of companies now allow 401(k) participation within …

It pays to promote from within

04/01/2004
Outside hires typically take twice as long to reach full productivity as in-house hires, according to a study by Mellon’s Human Resources & Investor Solutions Service. The study says executives hired …

Post injury/illness summary until April 30 this year

03/01/2004
Between Feb. 1 and April 30, many U.S. employers must post a summary of the number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred in their workplace last year. Your organization can …

Shelter yourself from gathering storm of ERISA claims

03/01/2004
Issue: Spurred by corporate retirement-fund scandals, the federal government is stepping up its monitoring of benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Risk: In 2003, …

You can monitor workers’ e-mail, but notify them first

03/01/2004
Employees won’t sue you for snooping in their e-mail if you make it clear (early and often) that it’s not their e-mail. It’s your property, and you hold the right to …

E-mail/Internet use: You have power to set, enforce policy

03/01/2004
THE LAW. Don’t believe employees’ claims about their desktop privacy. Current laws give your organization wide latitude to monitor and restrict employees’ use of e-mail, the Internet and other computer …

Squeeze the most value from your EAP

03/01/2004
Issue: Many organizations don’t reap the full financial benefits from their employee-assistance programs (EAPs) because employees underuse them. Benefits: When fully used …

Features to look for in performance-appraisal software

03/01/2004
Issue: Choose the software that best suits your organization’s needs. Benefits: Involving managers in the evaluation process not only helps you find the most appropriate software, it prompts them to …

Help a rookie manager, and create an ally for life

03/01/2004
Issue: New managers need your help, especially in their first three months. Benefits: Smoother management transitions, and they’ll see you as an asset rather than as a nuisance. Action: …