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Discipline / Investigations

Be prepared to explain why offenses were similar but punishments differed

12/08/2008

Employers need flexibility when it comes to disciplining employees. But flexibility can’t come at the expense of members of a protected class. Be careful before you approve different punishments for the same or very similar rule violations.

Was state staffer ordered to check out ‘Joe the Plumber’?

12/08/2008

Vanessa Niekamp, senior child support manager at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, said she feared for her job when she approached the inspector general about background checks performed on Joe Wurzelbacher, better known as “Joe the Plumber” …

Sexual harassment costs Nassau P.D. $1 million

12/05/2008

Three former detectives for the Nassau County Police Department’s 8th Precinct in Levittown have won a $1 million verdict for sexual harassment and discrimination.

Document absences, and excuses, too

12/04/2008

One of the best ways to win lawsuits at the earliest stages is to have ready a treasure trove of documents showing your decision about an employee was fair, impartial and reasonable. For example, for employees with absenteeism problems, document every absence.

You can apply rules more stringently to employees with greater responsibility

12/04/2008

Do you sometimes worry that every decision you make about an employee’s rule-breaking must be absolutely fair and that there is only black and white, but no gray? If so, rethink that idea.

Cautionary tale: Video cameras provide powerful evidence

12/04/2008

Here’s a cautionary tale you can tell employees when explaining they should never touch a fellow employee. With video surveillance cameras everywhere, such incidents may be caught on tape, and the employee doing the touching may have an innocent explanation that just won’t be heard over what seems to be happening on camera.

Fayetteville teacher under investigation for dissing McCain

12/04/2008

The Fayetteville Public School District is investigating a teacher at Mary McArthur Elementary School who told a student “your daddy could stay in the military for another hundred years” if John McCain were elected president.

Durham cops under investigation for slurring Obama

12/04/2008

Two Durham police officers are being investigated for allegedly posting racially charged comments about President-elect Barack Obama on their MySpace web pages in the days following the election.

How much investigation information do we need to give to suspended employee?

12/04/2008

Q. If we suspend an employee “pending investigation,” what information must we provide to the employee?

It’s essential to follow AG’s rules for disciplining police officers

11/25/2008

If you work in HR for a New Jersey law enforcement agency, take heed: Agencies that adopt the New Jersey attorney general’s (AG) guidelines on disciplinary actions must follow those guidelines if they expect their disciplinary decisions to stick.