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Policies / Handbooks

Establish rules on internal promotions to avoid lawsuits

04/01/2007

When it comes to internal promotions, you’re on the safest legal ground if you set clear procedures. That way, employees who don’t land coveted promotions can’t claim the reason was discrimination …

Make sure your arbitration agreement is valid in Ohio

04/01/2007

Arbitrating employment disputes in lieu of going to federal court can save your organization time and money if the agreement sticks. But just one mistake in drafting and implementing the agreement could end up costing you more, not less …

Lessons From Strip-Search Case: Train Managers on ‘Dignity’

04/01/2007

When managers suspect theft, it’s easy for tempers to rise. But don’t allow the incident to erupt into an ugly confrontation and public humiliation of employees …

Understanding religious accommodations in Ohio workplaces

04/01/2007

Ohio mirrors America’s growing diversity in many ways. Today, mosques occupy old churches; co-workers wear burqas and yarmulkes; and some employees request “prayer breaks.” Religious diversity is a reason for celebration, but it also presents challenges in the workplace …

Stray From Progressive-Discipline Policy at Your Own Risk

04/01/2007

If you have a progressive-discipline policy in your employee handbook, it’s legally wise to follow it carefully with all employees. If you deviate from it and fire a worker quickly, be prepared to provide a good reason …

USF Holland to pay $700,000 for race bias at Nashville plant

04/01/2007

Two black employees working in the Nashville plant of Michigan-based USF Holland recently won $350,000 each in a race-discrimination lawsuit …

New rules affect how you store and preserve electronic records

04/01/2007

New federal court rules for electronic-records maintenance and discovery took effect on Dec. 1, 2006. The rules govern discovery of electronically stored information in federal civil litigation …

Avoid these 5 telecommuting liability pitfalls

04/01/2007
As telework’s popularity grows, so do legal concerns for employers. To lower your risks, devise a telecommuting policy that protects you on these fronts.

Make sure employees know about internal job openings

04/01/2007

It pays to make every effort to publicize job openings to your current staff and make clear how employees should apply. If you don’t, you face potential discrimination claims …

Worker Doesn’t Have to Say ‘Harassment’ to Make Complaint

04/01/2007

Don’t wait for employees to use the magic words—“sexual harassment”—to begin investigating a complaint. It’s up to you to decipher an employee’s protests to determine if they could fall into that legally dangerous harassment-complaint zone …