Luckily, the owners and leaders of many smaller workplaces are able to claim that employee relations are great and that employment law really does not concern them. In many cases, those owners and leaders are correct. However, when a claim of harassment or discrimination occurs in a smaller workplace, those workplaces tend to be woefully […]
Archives for May 2014
Employee Handbook Policies May Infringe on the National Labor Relations Act
Standard language found in many employee handbooks include references to the company’s position on employment at will, or policies limiting how employees can use company property. Some handbooks include mandates alerting employees not to discuss their salaries with colleagues. It is language that may be considered an ‘unfair labor practice’ based on an interpretation of […]
Keeping a Watchful Eye on Changes in the Healthcare Landscape
The good news: In 2013, healthcare premiums only increased by 3.3%. compared to increases of 4.9 percent in 2012 and 8.5 percent in 2011, according to global consulting, and healthcare solutions firm Aon Hewitt. The bad news is that for employees, the average costs of employee contributions towards premiums are continuing an upward trend. It […]
The Issue of Overweight Workers and Workplace Discrimination
Did you know that there are employers who are refusing to hire overweight applicants because they consider these applicants to be a health risk? Or that there have been employees that have been fired because they cannot keep up with company mandated rules regarding what is deemed to be a healthy weight? From the overweight […]
Report Highlights How To Identify and Manage Workplace Bullying
Workplace bullying. A distasteful phrase that has become part of the lexicon of our society. Bullying, as we now understand, is not only limited to school kids on the playground. It’s actually a form of harassment that far too many working adults experience on a day-to-day basis. There seems to be a renewed sense of urgency […]
8 Reasons Why Your Business Should Run a Background Check on Every Employee
It used to be that an application, a resume, and a simple job interview were enough for most employers to know whether or not they wanted to hire somebody. These days though, with a growing number of horror stories involving dangerous criminals working in retail stores or rapists working in schools, more and more hiring […]
Incorporating E-Cigarettes Into Your Workplace Smoking Policies
With the raised consciousness over the last several years about the health affects of second hand smoke, including lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, many companies, particularly in the U.S. have instituted smoking bans or designated smoking areas in the workplace. Enter the electronic cigarette; battery-charged tobacco cigarette look-a-likes designed to be used as a replacement […]
Appeals Court Favors Employer: Employee Should Have Clearly Stated FMLA Request
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed in the appeals case of Patrick Hurley v. Kent of Naples, Inc. that in order to be protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), an employee must clearly request time away from work for an FMLA-qualifying leave. The Case Patrick Hurley, the plaintiff, indicated that he […]
The Obvious (And Not So Obvious) Reasons For Absenteeism Issues
As an employer you get that your staff needs occasional time away from work due to illness, a planned vacation, or just to run errands during business hours. But not all absences are created equal. Oftentimes there are personal issues that employers may not be aware of that impact the need for time away from […]
Hot Topics From Around The Web: Paycheck Fairness Act Blocked – For Now
For the third time, the Paycheck Fairness Act did not make it through to a floor vote as it was blocked by members of the Senate. The act aims to reduce wage discrimination against women who perform work substantially equal to men. The bill if passed will also offer some protection for employees who choose […]
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