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Employee Relations

Write concrete terms into your policies; don’t waffle

09/01/2004
Issue: The wording used in your employment policies. Risk: Overly vague language makes it difficult for employees to comply and makes you more vulnerable …

Don’t rubber-stamp firings; verify supervisors’ reasons

09/01/2004
Issue: Should HR question a supervisor’s plans to fire an employee? Risk: If you take a termination report at face value, you may overlook bias by a manager. Action: …

Investigate harassment, even if victim is hesitant

09/01/2004

Q. We’re afraid that one of our employees may have been subjected to discriminatory behavior. But she hasn’t filed a complaint. What should we do? Do we have an obligation to bring it up and investigate even if she declines? —S.P., Louisiana

Include cash rewards in employees’ taxable income

09/01/2004

Q. When we win contracts, we recognize employees with cash awards. But these awards may be given to only the select few employees involved. Is this legally OK? —G.J., Alabama

Use personality tests as tool, not stand-in, for hiring process

09/01/2004
Issue: When can (and should) you use personality testing to screen applicants? Benefit: More tests are available online, which makes them easier and cheaper …

Trump ‘The Donald’ with benefits of apprenticeships

09/01/2004
Issue: Your organization can benefit from government-backed apprenticeship programs. Benefit: Such programs can help you attract better applicants, cut turnover …

Tips & tactics from 2004 SHRM conference

08/01/2004
The HR Specialist joined more than 12,000 HR professionals in New Orleans this summer for the annual Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conference. Here are some …

Accommodate disabled workers, but don’t alter main job functions

08/01/2004
When employees request job accommodations for their disabilities, you must interact with them to find reasonable modifications. But it’s important to know how far your organization must stretch the job to …

Violent reaction from boss may trigger retaliation lawsuit

08/01/2004
If workers want to bring retaliation lawsuits against their employers, they must prove they suffered an “adverse employment action,” such as being fired, threatened or denied a promotion. But a court …

Ease pay complaints & turnover by training managers

08/01/2004

More often than not, employees believe that their pay levels are pulled out of a hat. And when employees do raise questions about their compensation, they typically go first to their front-line supervisor: the person with the greatest impact on their morale but the least-trained person to offer a good answer …