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HR Management

Don’t cut severance if it violates written contract

05/01/2003

Q. We need to change our severance policy, mostly due to declining business conditions. Can we reduce the severance amounts cited in employment agreements with certain staff as long as we notify them of the change? —J.C., Illinois

EEOC launches ‘referral back’ mediation program

05/01/2003
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is starting a new voluntary mediation pilot program in which private-sector discrimination charges filed …

Monitor your job board’s security; fake want ads appearing online

04/01/2003
Monster.com recently notified users that scam artists could be using its job board to pose as employers and post phony want ads. The bad guys’ goal: Collect personal information from unsuspecting …

Coming: A smaller EEOC?

04/01/2003
Paring down the commission’s 51 field offices, reorganizing headquarters, taking complaint filings online and establishing a national call center are …

Hiring new college grads? Keep your salary offers in check

04/01/2003
You won’t face a bidding war with competitors over new college graduates. Reason: Starting pay for most new grads is lower than it was just one year ago, most notably in …

Keep OSHA injury/illness logs posted longer this year

04/01/2003
If your company is required to post Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) 300 Logs for workplace injuries and illnesses, keep them posted until April 30 …

Age-based remark can spark lawsuit, even when made by older manager

04/01/2003
Respond to “age slurs” by any employees, even if the worker making the remark is older than the person who was slurred. As a recent case shows, over-40 employees can …

Don’t let weather closings bury you in pay confusion

04/01/2003
If your business closes because of bad weather, clear rules dictate who you must pay. First, exempt employees must receive their full salaries when bad weather …

You don’t have to offer FMLA leave to let worker travel with sick spouse

04/01/2003
Courts keep pushing the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) boundaries, letting employees take job-protected leave for circumstances other than physically providing care to a sick family member.

Be wary of giving employees automatic post-injury drug tests

04/01/2003
Steer clear of drafting (or continuing to follow) a company policy that says all employees involved in workplace accidents will automatically receive …