• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Policies / Handbooks

How your handbook may violate the NLRA

06/09/2014
The National Labor Relations Act guarantees employees the right to discuss working conditions and organize. The language contained in your employee handbook can put you on the wrong side of the law.

Employers crack down on social media abuse

06/05/2014
More than 70% of employers have disciplined employees for misuse of social media. Daniel Ornstein of the Proskauer law firm outlines ways to stop the headaches before they happen.

What to do when a co-worker dies

05/27/2014
It would be futile for ­managers to expect the colleagues of a deceased employee to go about business as usual. Here’s how HR should respond.

What do we need to know before implementing a mandatory dress code?

05/23/2014
Q. Are we free to institute any mandatory dress code that we’d like?

Can employees moonlight while out on medical leave?

05/12/2014
It may seem wrong for an employee who is out on disability leave to work another job. But don’t be so quick to fire her for lying about her medical condition—it could backfire in the form of a disability or retaliation claim.

Who’s in charge of implementing corporate diversity initiatives?

05/09/2014
HR is responsible for running most American employers’ diversity initiatives, according to a new survey by the Society for Human Resource Management.

What danger lurks in your (possibly outdated) handbook?

04/30/2014
Many companies fail to align their handbooks with the realities of their business. As a result, they end up with a handbook that does more harm than good. Here’s what they should include.

Is there a reason not to limit smoking breaks?

04/23/2014
Q. Two of our employees go outside to smoke almost every hour for about 10 minutes. Our other employees are starting to complain. Do we have to allow these 10-minute rest periods every hour?

Leave off job application any language that limits time frames for employee to sue

04/23/2014
Don’t even think of including in your job application a shortened statute of limitations for resolving employment disputes.

Just having a policy isn’t enough! Enforce your rules against harassment

04/23/2014
We’ve said it before, but it needs to be said again: Simply having a sexual harassment policy in your handbook won’t save you from a lawsuit. It’s all about what you do with that policy.