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HR Management

Employment contracts: Can your workers claim an ‘implied’ contract?

02/01/2004
Issue: Drafting a legally sound employment contract and avoiding “implied contract” claims.
Benefit/risk: While employment contracts can offer your organization additional legal rights, they also expose you to new legal …

Clarify your vacation policy or cough up extra pay

02/01/2004
Issue: Must you always pay employees for their unused vacation time when they depart your organization?
Risk: An unclear vacation policy could allow terminated employees to sue you and collect …

Office betting pools: Nice diversion or super problem?

02/01/2004
Issue: This is prime office-pool season: the Super Bowl, followed by the NCAA basketball tournament. Risk: Betting pools can sap productivity, but the real danger comes from compulsive gamblers on …

You can’t play politics with employees’ political choices

02/01/2004
Issue: In this election year, politics will become a hot topic around the water cooler.
Risk: Retaliating against employees for their off-site political activities or comments can run you into …

Review state law on voting leave

02/01/2004
Issue: Some states require you to give employees time off to vote. Benefit: You typically don’t have to pay for this “voting leave.” Action: Learn your state law and …

Beware labor’s pitch to create union sympathizers

02/01/2004
As AFL-CIO union membership continues to decline, it’s trying another tack: creating an army of nonunionized workers to rally support for its causes. Rather than organizing individual workplaces, this program, dubbed …

Use media to boost the organization’s stature (and yours)

02/01/2004
Issue: The media’s growing interest in HR and workplace issues. Benefit: By gaining publicity for your organization, you can aid recruitment efforts and earn kudos from top brass. Action: …

Compliments on dress and hair don’t equal sex harassment

01/01/2004
A female supervisor repeatedly complimented a female customer service rep on her choice of jewelry, clothing and hairstyle. The rep sued, alleging the constant comments were harassing and constituted a hostile …

ERISA: Monitor compliance to avoid legal challenges

01/01/2004
THE LAW. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) governs the administration of private employers’ employee benefit plans and the rights of plan beneficiaries. Congress passed the law in …

Focus on employee results, not face time

01/01/2004
A new OfficeTeam survey asked employees what one thing would give them more job satisfaction. The runaway winner: more schedule flexibility (33 percent). The lesson: If possible, stagger schedules to …