• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Employee Relations

Management Lessons From the Court

08/01/2004

Don’t open an employee’s’ personal mail If you know that a letter or package sent to that person at work is personal (not business related). A recent court ruling shows that you may be opening up a legal mess along with the letter …

To cut turnover, give applicants a realistic view of job

08/01/2004
Issue: How much should you, or the hiring manager, “sell” a position versus giving the full picture, warts and all? Risk: Providing an overly rosy scenario will create …

Retain low-wage employees without busting your budget

08/01/2004
Issue: Retention efforts often focus only on the well-paid professionals and superstars. Benefit: A few simple moves and low-cost programs can help trim turnover …

Don’t let compassion waylay your career

07/01/2004
Issue: HR specialists can become emotionally hooked on solving employees’ problems. Risk: Resulting emotional overload can sap your time, your energy …

Draw staff to your intranet (not your door) for HR basics

07/01/2004
Issue: Your intranet is packed with valuable HR information, but few employees are using it. Benefit: If employees see the intranet, not your office, as the first stop for HR …

Monitor employees’ e-mail, but notify them first

07/01/2004
Issue Employees wrongly assume their e-mail musings are private, privileged communications. Risk: If you don’t eliminate that belief, you’ll open your organization to disputes and lawsuits. Action: Require employees …

High court gives ‘quitters’ new legal power

07/01/2004
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that your obligation to investigate a harassment complaint ends when the victimized employee quits.
Reason: The U.S. Supreme Court just ruled that employees who …

More reason to stop harassment: Even ‘resignees’ can sue

07/01/2004
Issue: Whether employees who resign have the same right to file harassment lawsuits as those who are fired. Risk/benefit: A new Supreme Court ruling says “Yes,” quitters can sue. But …

Get tough with habitually absent employees

07/01/2004

Q. We have a new administrative employee in our pediatric office who missed 22 days of work in her first nine weeks. She has doctor excuses for illnesses for most of the days, but my front office is in shambles. Can I put her on written warning for excessive absences? Can I terminate her? —C.F., Georgia

What’s the cost of a chair? A lot less than a lawsuit

07/01/2004
Issue: Minor squabbles between employees and supervisors escalating into illegal “discipline.” Risk: If left unchecked, they can escalate, resulting in discrimination or retaliation claims. Action: Use the following case …