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Compensation & Benefits

Require employees to show FMLA proof before their leave

10/01/2004
Issue: When must employees provide proof of their need for FMLA leave? Benefit: You can require employees to provide proof when they request the leave. Action: Don’t be …

Water-cooler politics: Limit trouble, but allow free speech

10/01/2004
John Kerry and George Bush aren’t the only people embroiled in political debates this month. So are some of your employees. And, with the country at war …

No Need to Pay Employee for Home-to-Seminar Drive

10/01/2004

Q. In determining when to pay for travel time, what if an employee drives his own car to a seminar that’s two hours away? Should he get paid for his driving time to and from the seminar, even if he leaves from home and drives straight home afterward? —R.M., North Carolina

Calculating paid ‘On-Call’ time an art, not science

10/01/2004

Q. We have a maintenance employee who we will soon put “on call” for various shifts (occasionally at night) to fix equipment. How should we handle his on-call pay? —E.P., Rhode Island

Tap into employee brainstorms via suggestion program

10/01/2004
Issue: Employees have great ideas every day. Is your organization tapping into them? Benefits: A properly managed suggestion program can improve morale, increase …

‘Use-it-or-lose-it’ vacation policy usually legal, but check state law

10/01/2004
If you have a vague (or nonexistent) vacation policy, you’re simply asking for a lawsuit. That’s why it’s important to make sure your organization clearly spells out whether employees can roll …

Supreme Court starts new term; age-bias case tops slim HR agenda

10/01/2004
The U.S. Supreme Court opens its new session Oct. 4, but so far, employment issues are taking a back seat to cases ranging from juvenile executions to wine trading. Expect the …

5 steps to help you take control of your workday

10/01/2004
Issue: How to succeed at work, stay sane and still get home on time. Benefit: By seizing control over your day, you boost your value to the organization and advance …

Convey policy changes by paper, not e-mail

09/01/2004
When in doubt, print it out. That’s the message from a recent court decision regarding whether company policies sent via e-mail are valid.
Even though the Labor Department has given …

Don’t embellish pay and perks to lure candidates; it will backfire

09/01/2004
Hiring negotiations can be a complex game. And in their zeal to convince someone to leave one job to take another, hiring managers may be tempted to go overboard.
That’s …