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Policies / Handbooks

Get tough with habitually absent employees

07/01/2004

Q. We have a new administrative employee in our pediatric office who missed 22 days of work in her first nine weeks. She has doctor excuses for illnesses for most of the days, but my front office is in shambles. Can I put her on written warning for excessive absences? Can I terminate her? —C.F., Georgia

Monitor employees’ e-mail, but notify them first

07/01/2004
Issue Employees wrongly assume their e-mail musings are private, privileged communications. Risk: If you don’t eliminate that belief, you’ll open your organization to disputes and lawsuits. Action: Require employees …

Why you should care about 9/11 Commission report

07/01/2004
The federal panel investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks says the private sector is still unprepared for attacks. It’s expected to endorse a national emergency readiness standard that calls on …

Preserve at-will rights by ditching your employee probation period

06/01/2004
If your employee handbook or job-offer letters say new hires will face a 60- or 90-day probation period, you should consider dropping that policy or, at the very least, referring to …

Don’t write wishy-washy policies that make it hard for staff to comply

06/01/2004
Your employment policies should never leave employees guessing about how they must comply.
That’s why it’s vital to use concrete terms in your
policies that discuss employee behaviors and …

Camera phones at work: Shoot down this latest legal threat

06/01/2004
Camera phones now make up more than 4 percent of all worldwide cell phone sales. By 2007, more than half of all cell phones will be equipped with cameras, and cell …

Your probation period: a lawsuit waiting to happen

06/01/2004

If your employee handbook or job-offer letters say new hires will face a probation period of, say 60 or 90 days, you should consider dropping that policy.

Court: Employee ‘on-duty errands’ broaden your legal risk

06/01/2004
Issue: Are you liable for employees’ actions when they run personal errands while on company business? Risk: A new court ruling says “Yes,” raising your legal risks with people who …

Crank up volume on ‘no music piracy’ message to staff

06/01/2004
Issue: The recording industry is increasing the legal heat on illegal downloads, and the businesses that allow it to occur at work. Risks: Musicians can sue for up to $150,000 …

Silence pay-related complaints with wise words

06/01/2004
How do the employees at your organization feel about their compensation? If the answer is “Not good,” a bit of explanation from you can calm those troubled waters. Fact: Only 45 …