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Policies / Handbooks

Consult attorney on union contract—Because every word counts

07/11/2008
If your organization just became a union shop, chances are you will soon be knee-deep in contract negotiations. Before you sit down and begin drafting language you think is reasonable, consider this: From now on, interpretation of workplace rules will probably be out of your hands and will rest with an arbitrator …

Investigate harassment even if employee complains belatedly

07/11/2008
What happens if an employee has tolerated mild harassment for years without complaining and then the behavior escalates? If the employee stops work, takes disability leave and then files a sexual harassment complaint, what should you do? …

Strong privacy policy can curtail rifling through files

07/11/2008
Employees who are involved in employment disputes often think they can simply gather up any evidence they find lying about and turn it over to their lawyers. Smart employers try to limit the damage that revealing such confidential information may bring by holding all employees to reasonable privacy and confidentiality rules …

Kansas Court of Appeals enforces covenant not to compete against physician

07/09/2008
In a case that’s good news for Kansas employers, the Kansas Court of Appeals reversed a lower court involving a restrictive covenant. The appeals court found that the noncompete agreement’s three-year term and liquidated damages provisions were enforceable.

Beware: You’re now strictly liable for supervisor harassment

07/08/2008
The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that sexual harassment cases brought under the Minnesota Human Rights Act should follow the rules laid out for federal Title VII sexual harassment cases. The decision means employers can do precious little to escape liability if a supervisor harasses a subordinate and then takes, or threatens to take, an adverse employment action against that employee …

You get to decide what punishment fits the crime

07/08/2008
When it comes to disciplining employees who break company rules, courts like to keep their hands off employer decisions—as long as everyone who breaks a particular rule receives the same punishment. But courts rarely have problems with the rules companies create and the punishments companies assign to particular rules …

Worried about leave abuse? You can require regular call-Off

07/07/2008
Employees who have chronic medical conditions that require intermittent FMLA leave sometimes take advantage of alleged flare-ups to go on vacation or otherwise miss work for personal reasons. Discourage that kind of abuse by requiring them to call in daily. If the employee ignores the requirement, you can terminate her for failing to follow company policy …

Use stats to convince young staff to dress for success

07/03/2008
Has the warm summer weather deluded your young employees into believing it’s OK to sport weekend wear in the office? Share this tidbit with them: 41% of employers are more likely to promote workers who wear professional attire …

Remind employees often and clearly about handbook

07/02/2008
Smart HR pros set up tickler files to remind themselves to make sure everyone has the current version of the employee handbook—and any arbitration agreements you ask employees to sign. That file makes it easier to ensure every employee has an up-to-date copy and gets revisions every time policies change …

Hand Out Paychecks in Most Efficient, Legally Safe Way

07/01/2008

Putting paychecks (or pay stubs) in employees’ hands is a basic HR chore: No glory, but it must be done right. What’s the best way to do it? HR specialists around the country chimed in on this topic. Here are some of their best ideas …