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HR Management

Personnel files: What to keep, and where

02/01/2002

Q. What should we keep in personnel files? —G.T., Missouri

States up the ante in harassment liability

02/01/2002
Two pivotal Supreme Court decisions in 1998 gave employers a powerful new weapon to defend themselves when sued because of harassment by a supervisor. But recent rulings in a handful of …

Employees must ‘fess up about their need for leave

02/01/2002
Linda Collins’ attendance record at work was spotty at best. Her employer warned her more than a dozen times, including four formal warnings. But when she again called in sick two …

When bias goes companywide, class-action lawsuits will follow

02/01/2002
Two recent rulings illustrate how more workers are seeking, and winning, class-action status in charges of companywide discrimination. Case 1. In December, a federal court in Illinois paved the way …

FMLA AND HOLIDAY PAY, PART II

02/01/2002

In last month’s Business Talk column, a subscriber asked about holiday pay for workers taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Several of you asked us to elaborate …

Don’t be tempted by corporate ministry services

02/01/2002

Q. Since Sept. 11 and due to the economic doldrums, some of our employees have not been the same emotionally. We’ve tried to be patient and understanding, but they seem to need something else. We’ve heard that some companies are contracting with corporate ministry services. Is this practice legal or advisable? —S.S., Virginia

Employee or contractor? Failing to check can double damages

01/01/2002
Bell Atlantic Corp., now Verizon, hired drivers for its senior executives. While some drivers were considered Bell employees, others were independent contractors paid a flat hourly rate. They had to carry …

Don’t invite EEOC to fish through your files

01/01/2002
When dealing with the federal government, sometimes too much compliance can get you in trouble. What happened? When the Equal Employment Oppor-tunity Commission (EEOC) got a complaint about racial discrimination …

Sidestep liability when releasing information on ex-employees

01/01/2002
Wal-Mart fired truck driver Joseph Tracz after he tested positive for drugs. When he applied for another job, Tracz signed an authorization form allowing Wal-Mart to release his past drug tests. …

Evacuation plan? New guide helps you avoid ADA complaints

01/01/2002
If you’re revamping your workplace evacuation plans in the wake of Sept. 11, check out new guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The problem: In determining who …