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Policies / Handbooks

Harassment: Here’s why you want to make reporting it easy

12/20/2022
It is vital to encourage employees to report anything they think could be classified as sexual, racial or other harassment. Make reporting easy, offering multiple complaint avenues. Instruct supervisors and managers to say something if they see something.

The elections are over. Now it’s time to update your HR policies

12/15/2022
The result of November’s mid-term elections means a split Congress. This will make it difficult for legislation to pass. Thus, no drastic changes are expected, according to counsel at McMahon Berger, P.C. in St. Louis. But counsel at the firm, Stephen B. Maule and Timothy W. Bubenik, outlined several issues for which employers should prepare.

Medical cannabis bill is back in Louisiana

12/15/2022
Veterans and first responders who use medical cannabis should be shielded from workplace discrimination, urge some military members and first responders in Louisiana. Last year, a bill to do just that failed in the state legislature. It’s back this session.

Religious accommodations and how to implement them

12/15/2022
Employers have a legal obligation to accommodate the sincerely held religious beliefs of their employees. Employers want to get it right but navigating religious accommodations can be tricky. Here is some practical information to help employers better understand their general obligations.

Lessons from Walmart workplace killings

12/13/2022
What can other employers learn from this latest episode of workplace violence, and how can they improve their prevention programs?

Beware ad hoc accommodation approvals

12/13/2022
Every organization should have a well-delineated plan for approving reasonable accommodations. Don’t let direct supervisors make their accommodations casually. These ad hoc arrangements often become almost impossible to revoke later.

Universities ban caste bias; a lawsuit follows

12/13/2022
Brown University has added caste discrimination to its nondiscrimination list, joining other universities that now include caste among protected categories such as race, religion, sex and gender identity.

Guns in the workplace? Watch the Supreme Court

12/06/2022
A new nightmare for employers is the issue of guns in the workplace. The Supreme Court has held its fire for now, but perhaps not for long.

Your handbook could get you sued

11/17/2022
Common handbook rules require honesty on a job application and prior approval before taking on a second job, as well as proof that any second job wouldn’t interfere with the first one. That way, you may assume you can fire a worker who lied on their application or whose moonlighting would conflict with the day job. Unfortunately, each of these handbook rules could backfire if used to justify a demotion or termination.

Draft your executive contingency plan

11/17/2022
We live in a culture where easy access to social media networks means a single indiscretion can become common knowledge in a few hours or even minutes. For employers, this can mean being forced to react to bad publicity almost immediately. That’s one reason every employer should have a contingency plan for not just responding but also for instant, pre-authorized action.