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Employee Relations

Enlist employees’ help to win the health-cost battle

11/01/2003
Issue: Strong communication with employees is a vital part of controlling health care insurance costs.
Benefit: Employees who understand the forces driving up their premiums are more likely to play …

Can you accommodate disabilities you don’t know about?

11/01/2003
Issue: The Americans with Disabilities Act requires disabled employees to advise you about their need for accommodation. Benefit: Courts will side with you if you can …

Your ideas: When to hold ’em, when to fold ’em

11/01/2003
Issue: Weigh and incorporate feedback on your ideas before “going public” with them.
Benefit: See the flaws in your plan, and spot opposition early on, so it, and your …

How to conduct positive, valuable assessments

11/01/2003
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It’s OK to discipline employees for public displays of affection

11/01/2003
If employees’ on-site amorous actions are making you or their co-workers uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to tell the lovebirds to withhold their romance for more private, off-premise moments. Courts will likely …

You may need to offer flex schedule as ADA accommodation

11/01/2003
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says you must make accommodations to let disabled employees perform the essential functions of their jobs. But regular, on-time attendance is an essential job function, …

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 …

Consider paying staff if computer error halts work

10/01/2003

Q. Is it OK not to pay hourly employees if we have to send them home because our computer system went down for the day? —J.B., Massachusetts