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Training

Whistle-blowers protected only if concerns are in writing

02/01/2007

Florida’s Whistleblower Act protects employees only if they notify their employers of alleged wrongdoing before reporting it to authorities. That way, employers have a chance to correct the problem first …

Printed policies don’t suffice; be vigilant about harassment

02/01/2007

If your business operates in far-flung parts of the country, make sure everyone’s on the same page in following your anti-discrimination policies …

‘He said, she said’: Train staff in conflict resolution

02/01/2007

What’s a manager to do when faced with conflicting accounts of an argument between employees? An important part of that answer is to resolve it quickly, before the dispute spreads like a cancer through your organization …

Warn bosses: Don’t speculate on workers’ medical limits

02/01/2007

Supervisors and HR professionals must avoid stereotyping employees who have medical problems and never make assumptions about workers’ abilities to perform the job. Making uninformed comments about physical ailments is a quick way to land in court …

Are overweight employees due ‘disability’ rights?

02/01/2007

Americans are a well-fed bunch, as statistics show, and now many overweight employees cite their extra baggage as a legally protected “disability.” The good news: Employees carry a heavy burden of proof, especially in the 2nd Circuit …

Melville benefits firm settles father/son harassment lawsuit

02/01/2007

Melville-based Comprehensive Benefits Consultants will pay $150,000 to four former employees who alleged the company’s owner and his son subjected them to name-calling, sexual jokes, hugging and grabbing …

Lessons from Wal-Mart’s employment-law missteps

02/01/2007

Wal-Mart bashing may be the new spectator sport in America, but the nation’s largest retailer is slowly learning some important lessons from a series of legal setbacks involving time and attendance records and managers’ misguided efforts at cost control …

Train managers on FMLA or risk paying double damages

02/01/2007

It’s more important than ever to teach supervisors how to listen for leave requests that could fall under the umbrella of a “serious” condition qualifying for FMLA relief. Otherwise, don’t expect to plead ignorance if they make a mistake …

Separate wheat from chaff: 21 smart interview questions

02/01/2007

HR professionals often play it ultra-safe in interviewing. For fear of asking unusual, inappropriate or even illegal questions, they stick to bland, scripted queries that don’t draw applicants out of their comfort zone. That’s a sure path to hiring failure …

More civility in workplace = fewer lawsuits

02/01/2007

Happy employees are far less likely to sue. And the secret to creating happy employees typically isn’t related to more pay or exotic perks. It’s more about creating an atmosphere of trust, appreciation and mutual respect …