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HR Management

Same-sex marriage: Know the impact on policies, benefits

05/01/2004
Issue: How to sort out federal law and emerging state and local rules on same-sex marriages and unions. Benefit/risk: You don’t need to extend …

Even ‘Optional’ company events carry risks

05/01/2004

Q. Awhile back you suggested that we provide transportation home for employees who suffer an illness that could be work-related. Would that apply to company parties for which employees’ attendance is voluntary? —C.K, Illinois

Requiring training won’t constitute retaliation, court says

05/01/2004
Don’t worry about assigning an employee to a job in which she’ll need to upgrade her skills, even if that employee previously filed a lawsuit against your organization. Reason: As long …

Choose the right HR metrics for your organization

04/01/2004
You probably track several HR-related numbers, but are you sure you’re tracking the right ones?

Include ‘work-on-site’ requirement in job description

04/01/2004
Issue: Must you include a position’s most obvious requirements, such as working at the job site, in employees’ job descriptions? Risk: Misunderstandings can spark lawsuits from employees who are eligible …

Interview the hiring manager before the candidates

04/01/2004

Q. I constantly run into this problem: I pre-screen a candidate who seems like a perfect fit for the job description. But when I send the person to the hiring manager for an interview, I’m told to keep looking for someone better. This is frustrating to the managers, the applicants and me. Any suggestions on how I can improve my pre-screening? —P.B., New Jersey

Who’s an ‘applicant’? New rules ease recordkeeping pain

04/01/2004
Who is a serious applicant, and who is simply a “rÃ?©sumÃ?©-blaster?” It’s a serious question, and the federal government is making it easier for you to decide. In the …

Don’t rely on ‘self-service’ background checks

04/01/2004
If job candidates approach you with a written report attesting to the validity of their résumés, don’t stop your background check there. Probe deeper with your own, independent check. New …

No letter from OSHA? Don’t breathe easy yet

04/01/2004
About 13,000 U.S. employers recently received letters alerting them that their companies’ injury and illness rates are “significantly higher” than national averages. They were warned to shape up. The letters don’t …

Turn up volume on ‘no music piracy at work’ message

04/01/2004
It’s a fact that many employers are just now coming to realize: Hip-hopping employees downloading tunes from the Internet can expose your organization to legal problems, not to mention sapping your …