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

Q&A

What are the rights of an employee who wants leave to care for his pregnant girlfriend?

03/09/2010

Q. An employee’s girlfriend is pregnant and having some complications. He has asked for time off to care for her until the baby is born. What are his rights?

Can we put attendance conditions on whether we will pay for paid holidays?

03/01/2010

Q. Our production manager heard that employers don’t have to pay holiday pay if an employee is absent the workday immediately before or after the paid holiday. Is this true?

If fired worker lists us as a reference, will we get in trouble for telling the truth?

03/01/2010

Q. Another company has requested a reference for an employee that we fired. The company has a signed form giving the employee’s written consent to ask us for a reference. Will we have legal problems if we provide negative information about the employee?

What to do about late time sheets?

03/01/2010

Q. One of our field technicians is consistently late in providing her time sheets. This interferes with promptly billing our customers for work performed. Can we delay paying this employee as an incentive to submit her time sheets on time?

Are unemployment benefits taxable?

03/01/2010

Q. We have several employees that have been laid off and are receiving unemployment benefits. They have asked whether they are required to pay taxes on their unemployment benefits.

Must we pay for unauthorized overtime?

03/01/2010

Q. Without authorization, one of our employees worked extra hours this week, even though we told everyone they needed approval to work overtime. Are we required to pay overtime for the unauthorized hours?

Do we need to get proof that employees who drive have licenses and insurance?

03/01/2010

Q. Some of our employees have jobs that require some driving. Do we need to ask these employees for proof that they have driver’s licenses and insurance?

Must we track hours for exempt salespeople?

02/25/2010

Q. We have salespeople who work on a straight commission basis. Do we need to track their hours?

Can we forbid employees from gathering in a prayer group while on breaks?

02/25/2010

Q. A group of our employees met during their break to have group prayer. A supervisor complained to our president, who said we should tell employees they can’t pray on break time, nor can they pray during lunch unless they leave the building. Some employees are upset. Is this policy legal?

Must we pay for unauthorized overtime?

02/22/2010

Q. Without authorization, one of our employees worked extra hours this week, even though we told everyone they needed approval to work overtime. Are we required to pay overtime for the unauthorized hours?