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Q&A

Can an injured worker double dip?

10/22/2008

Q. Can an injured worker obtain both workers’ compensation benefits and Social Security disability benefits at the same time? …

How can I ensure a safe work environment?

10/22/2008

Q. What are some proactive strategies employers can implement to promote a safe workplace? …

Can I punish employees who miss work because they are witnesses in a trial?

10/21/2008

Q. Several employees have requested leave to be witnesses in an upcoming criminal trial. This is the busiest time of year for me. Can I discipline these employees in accordance with my absentee policy for missing work to attend this trial? If they know that’s what I plan to do, maybe they can avoid being witnesses.

What are the rules on employing minors?

10/21/2008

Q. My son and his friends, all of whom are 11 years old, have asked if they can work for me for the next several months in order to earn money for a camping trip they plan to take during summer break. Can I help out my son and his friends by employing them for a few hours after school several days a week? I know there are child labor laws, but this is a good cause.

OK to pay hourly employees monthly?

10/21/2008

Q. I own a retail store and I have large inventory outlay costs during the first half of the month. To help manage my cash flows, I would like to begin paying my hourly employees at the end of the month. Can I pay them once a month at the end of each month? …

Are there state laws on record-keeping?

10/21/2008

Q. My company owns a large manufacturing facility in Georgia. I’m familiar with federal requirements, but does Georgia provide for record-keeping requirements under state fair employment practice laws? …

Must we pay for tryout time?

10/20/2008

Q. I recently heard the phrase “tryout time” and wondered what this phrase meant and how it may be applicable to my workplace …

What do we do now that our employees have voted for an alternative workweek?

10/20/2008

Q. Our employees recently voted to establish a 4-10 workweek—four workdays a week, 10 hours per day. Are we required to submit the election results to the state? …

What are the rules for handling ‘seventh day’ overtime pay?

10/20/2008

Q. One of my employees worked four 10-hour days this week. His last day of work fell on Sunday, the seventh day of our workweek. We do not currently have an alternative work schedule arrangement. Do we have any overtime obligations to this employee? …

Firing a ‘That’s not in my job description’ complainer

10/17/2008

Q. The owner of our company recently fired an employee who refused to run a business-related errand. The employee said running errands wasn’t in his job description. Can he sue us for wrongful termination? …