05/13/2008
You’d never discuss how much money you make, right? Dude, that attitude is so 20th century! The 20-somethings you work with eagerly dish about salaries, bonuses and other work topics you might consider taboo. Managers tempted to forbid such talk? Don’t let them! Here's why.
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04/29/2008
The dangers of smoking are well documented: heart disease and cancer, shorter life expectancy, higher health care expenses. Now add another risk: As workers in Indiana just found out, smoking could get you fired. Was their employer justified in taking action, or did it step into a legal quagmire?
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04/15/2008
As an HR pro, you probably have more personal interactions with employees than anyone else in your organization. Let’s face it: They all know who you are. Do you know who they are? If too often the face looks familiar but you can’t place the name, try these seven tips for remembering.
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04/10/2008
Poor communications with employees isn’t just bad for business. It also creates a work environment that’s ripe for legal trouble. Stay out of the courtroom by taking time to explain your actions and make the workplace seem rational to employees. Here's how.
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04/08/2008
Terminating an employee is probably the hardest thing an HR professional has to do—and the most legally dangerous. To handle terminations well, you need to keep calm, communicate your message without escalating the tension and stick to a plan. Here’s a 10-step course of action ...
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04/01/2008
The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decisions in Faragher v. City of Boca Raton and Ellerth v. Burlington Industries were a wake-up call for employers to take affirmative steps to prevent, detect and remedy unlawful workplace harassment. When harassment rears its ugly head, here's how to conduct your investigation.
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03/20/2008
As if computer solitaire wasn't enough of a distraction for daydreaming office workers, March Madness is about to make working hard even harder. But that's not all bad, according to one expert: The morale boost may make the NCAA tournament a good bet for employers. Here are some of the rules of the game for HR.
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03/04/2008
To pay or not to pay for travel time? That question has baffled many an employer. Here's a concise explanation of how you should handle three different travel scenarios—plus Fair Labor Standards Act definitions of “hours worked.”
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02/26/2008
Every manager has employees who perform below standard. They're not terrible employees, but they’re not achieving the quality or quantity of work they’re capable of. Try these tips for letting underachieving employees know what's expected and get them moving in the right direction.
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02/11/2008
The U.S. Labor Department yesterday took a big step toward clarifying some of the most confusing aspects of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The agency issued a series of proposed changes to the law that, if finalized, could help employers administer the complex 15-year-old law and avoid lawsuits. But the proposal carries a few extra burdens for employers, too.
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02/05/2008
Gossip and nonwork chatter that spread via e-mail, instant messages (IMs) or texting can easily be captured and saved, possibly for a jury to see someday. The solution: Don’t let workplace-related gossip spread unfettered. Establish a reputation as an open-door HR department, and become a “news creator” rather than constantly responding with damage control to squash rumors ...
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01/28/2008
An employee handbook can be the foundation of employee performance and a shield against lawsuits—or it can be a ticking time bomb that confuses employees and strips away your legal defenses. It all depends on how well it’s written and put to use.
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01/08/2008
CareerBuilder.com recently asked 2,929 hiring managers and HR pros to name the lamest excuses they had ever heard for missing work. Who knew America’s work force was so fragile—or creative? Maybe some innovative strategies can stem the tide of absenteeism.
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12/11/2007
People who send text messages while driving are three times more likely to crash than other drivers, and distracted driving accounts for 80% of all accidents. You need a policy that prohibits employees from texting while driving on company business. Here's why it's important and how to craft your policy.
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