Discipline / Investigations

Tell Supervisors to Make FMLA a ‘Work-Free Zone’

11/01/2003

Asking employees to perform even a minimal amount of work while they’re out on an FMLA absence could spark a lawsuit. And firing someone for refusing to pirtch in while out on leave almost surely will …

‘Self-defense’ is no excuse for ignoring anti-violence rules

11/01/2003

Issue: Employees may try to use “self-defense” as a reason for breaking your no-fighting rule.
Risk: That would limit your ability to punish violent workers …

Play it safe: Craft policy banning supervisor/subordinate relationships

11/01/2003

Issue: Personal relationships between employees and their bosses are ripe conditions for legal trouble.
Risk: Any form of quid pro quo (“this for that”) exchange of sexual favors for job …

Don’t ‘call out’ staff slackers in public

10/01/2003

Reprimands and demotions are a normal part of managing people. But don’t let supervisors take it a step further by broadcasting a reprimand to those with no reason to know.
…

Mind your P’s and P’s: Patience and proof are best defense against lawsuits

10/01/2003

Some managers are reluctant to discipline minority employees or others in “protected” classes. That’s not smart, and it can come back to haunt you if you don’t discipline all employees evenly. …

Prevent managers from interfering with employees’ ADA rights

10/01/2003

You know that you can’t retaliate against employees who request accommodation under the Americans with Disabil-ities Act (ADA). But in addition to this anti-retaliation rule, the law includes a little-known “interference” …

Don’t Treat Disciplinary Suspensions as ‘Admin Leave’

10/01/2003

Q. We recently sent an employee home for not following his supervisor’s instructions. Do we have an obligation to pay him for the full day regardless? How should we handle this situation in the future? Is this considered administrative leave? —D.M., California

Discipline / Investigations

Tell Supervisors to Make FMLA a ‘Work-Free Zone’

‘Self-defense’ is no excuse for ignoring anti-violence rules

Play it safe: Craft policy banning supervisor/subordinate relationships

Don’t ‘call out’ staff slackers in public

Mind your P’s and P’s: Patience and proof are best defense against lawsuits

Prevent managers from interfering with employees’ ADA rights

Don’t Treat Disciplinary Suspensions as ‘Admin Leave’

Show managers why discipline must remain confidential

Ask these questions before you ‘Write up’ an employee

Spot check your workplace for offensive material

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