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Policies / Handbooks

From reality TV to ‘wellness ambassador’ at medical lab firm

08/07/2009

Quest Diagnostics is so serious about employee health that it calls the director of its wellness programs the “wellness ambassador.” Bill Germanakos, the 2007 season winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” reality TV show, oversees HealthyQuest, which helps the firm’s 41,000 eligible employees change unhealthy behaviors.

New moms can bring baby to work at Pittsburgh firm

08/07/2009

New moms who work for Maya Design in Pittsburgh don’t have to worry about child care for their hard-to-place infants, at least for six months after they give birth. They can tote the tots to work. The consulting firm and technology research lab welcomes infants through its Babies in the Workplace program.

Virginia firm’s dog lovers take a cause for the paws

08/07/2009

About a third of the 15 employees who work for ClearedJobs.net in Falls Church, Va., bring their dogs to work. So it was pretty easy for Chief Marketing Officer Kathleen Smith to convince the group to pitch in when she decided to send care packages to U.S. military working dogs in Afghanistan.

From across the pond: British firm pays for ‘Botox leave’

08/07/2009

So many employees of Fox Kalomaski were taking leave for “beauty treatments” that the London-based advertising agency added an extra paid day off—and execs there call it “Botox leave.” The day off happens in December, says the managing director, who speculates employees need time to “make sure they’re looking their best for the Christmas party photos.”

Should we discontinue ‘casual Fridays’ that include beer and wine ‘happy hours’?

08/04/2009

Q. For several years, Fridays have been “casual days” for our employees. Beer and wine are served beginning around 4:30 p.m. We hate to stop this practice because our employees seem to enjoy it and there has never been a problem. Should we stop?

Update your policies: North Carolina bans texting while driving

07/27/2009

Cell phones, BlackBerries, iPods, iPhones and GPS devices—even laptop computers—all offer important travel information and productive work connectivity for employees on the go. But using those devices while operating a vehicle is also dangerous. That’s why North Carolina recently passed a law, effective Dec. 1, making it unlawful for a person operating a motor vehicle to send text or e-mail messages while the vehicle is in motion.

Can a former employee demand that we pay her for unused vacation and sick leave?

07/27/2009

Q. A former employee is demanding pay for her unused vacation and sick leave. Must we pay her?

A matter of policy: Doing 4 things right helps win lawsuits

07/27/2009

It’s a mantra that can’t be repeated too often: Develop a policy, communicate it to your employees, investigate when you learn of possible infractions and, if wrongdoing did occur, punish those who violated the policy. It’s refreshing to report on an employer that did everything right and emerged victorious from court.

Press ‘send’ for liability: The legal risk of misdirected e-mail

07/24/2009

Have you ever felt that punch-to-the-stomach feeling of clicking “Send” and realizing you blasted an e-mail to the wrong person? As the CEO in the following case learned, one misguided e-mail mixed with some poor judgment can stir up a potent legal stew …

Summer scheduling: What changes do you make?

07/24/2009

If you notice that “summer stare” on employees’ faces as they gaze longingly out their office windows, it may be time for a morale-boosting seasonal schedule change. Here are some ideas working for the readers of the HR Specialist Forum: