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Policies / Handbooks

Measure effectiveness to make sure flex plans work for you

08/01/2008
Your organization wouldn’t offer flexible work arrangements like flextime and compressed workweeks if managers didn’t believe the benefits—better employee engagement, recruitment and retention—outweighed the costs. Still, a recent survey by Hewitt Associates found that few organizations have formal and consistent policies in place to manage their flex programs …

Employees have paid time off to volunteer in community

08/01/2008

Daimler Financial Services in Farmington Hills, Mich., not only gives its employees an extra paid day off every year so they can do volunteer work but also helps them find charities in need of help.

The Healthy Families Act: What it will mean for Ohio employers

08/01/2008
As many of our readers are aware, November’s ballot will probably contain a referendum asking Ohio voters to approve the Ohio Healthy Families Act. The proposed legislation would require Ohio employers to provide seven days of paid sick leave annually for most employees. Employers had better be forewarned and forearmed in the event the proposal becomes law …

Attendance policies: Control absenteeism without breaking the law

08/01/2008

For most employees, regular attendance is a key job function. But while you are free to set and enforce attendance rules, you must also comply with key federal laws, including the FMLA and the ADA.

 

Shorts Circuit: Firm Orders Employees to Take Off Pants

08/01/2008
Employees of Richter7, a Salt Lake City-based advertising and public relations agency, received an unusual directive from top management earlier this summer: No long pants allowed! Shorts, skirts, skorts and capris were in fashion for four weeks as part of a companywide push to beat the heat. Richter7’s owners even bought each employee a new pair of shorts.

You must protect customers—Even from off-Duty workers

07/29/2008
If you think your employment law risk for each employee disappears the moment the person walks out your door each night, think again. An important court ruling shows how your organization can be liable even for off-duty employees who loiter near the workplace—and in some cases, even when they’re driving home!

What to do when employee is caught stealing

07/25/2008
Q. While a manager at one of our locations was on vacation, we performed an audit of her books and discovered that she had written unauthorized checks to herself totaling $25,000. We intend to confront her and terminate her. What else should we do? …

OK to refuse to pay unauthorized overtime?

07/25/2008
Q. We have a company policy forbidding unauthorized overtime in a workweek. May I refuse to pay overtime to an employee who works overtime without authorization? …

Workplace bullying by managers: Unpleasant, but is it illegal?

07/24/2008
According a recent Zogby International survey, 37% of U.S. workers report that they’ve been bullied at work. Not surprisingly, they say, the overwhelming majority (72%) of bullies are bosses. Workplace bullying is harassment that’s not necessarily based on an employee’s protected characteristic, such as gender or race. But, unlike harassment based on a protected class, bullying may not be illegal …

Employee handbooks: Are they mandatory?

07/24/2008
Q. We have never had an employee handbook. Do we need one? If so, how do we start? …