Policies / Handbooks

Have a hotline? Take all complaints seriously

03/06/2019

Most employers have heard that setting up a hotline so employees can report discrimination will help them defend against lawsuits later. But that hotline can also bite the employer if it doesn’t take complaints seriously and try to fix reported problems.

NYC is first to ban bias on the basis of hairstyles

02/26/2019

The New York City Commission on Human Rights has issued guidance making clear that the city considers discrimination on the basis of someone’s hairstyle to be a subset of race discrimination.

No-fighting rule? Punish combatants equally

02/22/2019

You probably have a rule against any form of violence in the workplace. Make sure you uniformly discipline everyone involved in any altercation.

SUNY requires system-wide relationship policies

02/12/2019

Regulations set to take effect March 1 require all campuses in the State University of New York system to develop a “Sexual and Romantic Relationship” policy.

Centralized pay & promotion guidance is fine, but leave individual decisions to managers

01/29/2019

You may still face isolated lawsuits alleging discriminatory pay practices by a specific supervisor. However, that’s preferable to a potential class-action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of similarly situated employees across the company.

Reining in Cupid during office hours

01/23/2019

What can you do if you’re hit by cupid’s arrow at work? Follow these rules to avoid a messy situation.

DOL serious about nursing mother protections

12/20/2018

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued one of its first milk-expression break citations on the Trump administration’s watch.

New York City enacts new lactation room requirement

12/18/2018

Effective March 19, 2019, employers with at least four employees must have a lactation policy and lactation room available for employees.

Gifting guidelines to promote holiday harmony

12/12/2018

Holiday gift-giving at work often skids wildly into a ditch of misunderstanding and impropriety. Here are some simple ways to steer clear of gaffes.

Diversity initiatives: Make sure your good intentions are lawful

11/28/2018

While the Supreme Court has never overturned an employer’s voluntary affirmative action policy, lower courts have struck down such policies when they have strayed beyond Title VII and trammeled upon the rights of male and nonminority employees.