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Policies / Handbooks

Not just a matter of style: Factor safety, liability into dress code

05/16/2012
A recent HR Specialist poll found that casual attire is the norm in 88% of our ­readers’ workplaces. But a culture of dressing down doesn’t mean organizations don’t need a dress code. Although you don’t want to restrict your employees’ personal choices unnecessarily, you can set rules that promote a safe and efficient workplace.

Best defense against harassment complaints: Robust policy and prompt investigations

05/14/2012

HR professionals can’t be everywhere at once, making sure no boss ever harasses a subordinate. It will happen, even in the best, most progressive organizations. Protect against such nonsense with a robust anti-harassment policy …

OSHA alert: Don’t set policies that stifle injury reporting

05/11/2012
OSHA last month issued a memo alerting its field officers to watch­­ out for employer policies and incentives that could discourage workers from reporting injuries.

Law firm axes employees for wearing orange

05/09/2012
The Fort Lauderdale law firm of Elizabeth R. Wellborn, P.A. apparently has several openings. Tip for job-seekers: Don’t wear orange to the interview.

When employees are bilingual, it’s OK to require use of English in the workplace

05/03/2012

Employers can require employees to speak English at work, as long as they enforce the rule across the board. What they can’t do: Allow some employees to use one foreign language but punish others for using a third language.

Good documentation is the key to legally disciplining employees

05/01/2012
How you document a discipline issue can cause problems if an employee files a lawsuit. To protect your organization, follow these guidelines:

Not a matter of style: Factor safety, liability into dress code

04/30/2012

A recent HR Specialist poll found that casual attire is the norm in 88% of our readers’ workplaces. But a culture of dressing down doesn’t mean organizations don’t need a dress code. What people wear to work is more than a matter of personal preference. One area of primary concern is safety.

How should we manage unused vacation?

04/19/2012

Q. Several of our employees have compiled a lot of vacation time. Is there any way we can manage how much vacation leave time our employees accrue?

The 5 elements your vacation leave policy must include

04/16/2012
Summer vacation season will soon be upon us, and that means it’s time to dust off your company’s time-off policy. A sound vacation policy addresses the following five elements:

Safety trumps bias claim in case of ‘no skirts’ rule

04/16/2012
One of the few times you can overrule an employee’s religious accommodation requests is when safety is involved, as the following case shows.