Employee Relations

Just worried about discipline? Employee can’t sue yet

02/27/2012

Employees won’t get far if they try to sue their employer over discipline that has yet to occur.

Boss recommends firing? Check for bias

02/27/2012

Before disciplining or discharging an employee based on a supervisor’s recommendation, make sure you independently investigate the reason. That’s the only surefire way to avoid “rubber-stamping” a biased supervisor’s hidden agenda.

Do you have an official policy that regulates romantic relationships between co-workers?

02/21/2012

In the workplace, love may be in the air, but most employers turn a blind eye.

Annual meeting inspires, while skirting business talk

02/21/2012

The 100-plus senior managers who attend the annual meeting of nationwide retirement community firm Aegis Living talk about everything except business. Instead, they listen to inspirational speakers and celebrities, whose identities are not revealed until the guests are introduced.

AT&T focuses on Hispanic diversity

02/20/2012

As part of its diversity effort, AT&T has beefed up its efforts to include Hispanic employees at all levels of its business. Its program includes building a diverse workforce—Hispanics account for 12% of AT&T employees.

OSHA’s Whistle-Blower Program

02/18/2012

HR Law 101: OSHA’s special whistle-blower program is designed to protect workers who report employer wrongdoing or dangerous conditions. Under the program, employers may not retaliate or discriminate against workers who file complaints with OSHA …

6 ways–beyond ‘fixing’ the employees–to improve productivity

02/17/2012

When productivity dips, it seems logical to blame employees for not engaging in the job. But that might not be what’s going on. The problem: Identifying what that “something” is that’s sapping productivity—and getting rid of it. Six factors to examine:

Policies are key to handling workplace romance

02/14/2012

Romance may be in the air at your workplace this Valentine’s Day. A 2011 survey by CareerBuilder.com found that 40% of those polled said they have dated a co-worker. But while Cupid shoots arrows, workplace romances often blow up in a liability minefield.

Can dermatologist tell worker to tone down the tan?

02/06/2012

Q. We’re a dermatology practice and one of our new employees is excessive with tanning. She has a dark tan and sometimes is sunburned. We promote the opposite of what she does. She also wears tight low-cut tops. Are we allowed to say something in both regards?

Pay cut for poor work? Document carefully

02/03/2012

If an employee isn’t working as hard as you expect, reducing his pay might conceivably provide enough of a kick in the pants that he’ll pick up the pace. As long as you carefully document why you are making the pay cut, he won’t win a discrimination case even if his pay puts him at a lower level than others outside his protected class who perform the same job.