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Employment Law

Monitoring Internet usage? You’re not alone

04/01/2006

Three quarters of employers responding to a new American Management Association survey said they monitor how employees spend their time online at work …

Dispelling 4 common myths about disability leave

04/01/2006

There once was a time when considering an employee’s request for disability leave was fairly straightforward. But no more. With passage of the ADA and FMLA, employers must now navigate a virtual maze of federal laws and regulations. And when an employee’s disability stems from a work-related accident, workers’ compensation issues must be taken into account …

Asian-American workers: Beware bias, immigration scrutiny

04/01/2006

Following 9/11, the EEOC paid particular attention to employment-discrimination backlash against employees who appeared to be Muslims or of Middle Eastern or South Asian ancestry. But now that effort appears to be broadening. Until recently, the EEOC didn’t view job discrimination against Asian-Americans as a widespread problem. But a new survey changed all that …

 

You’re not required to print handbook in Spanish

04/01/2006

Q. If an employee speaks Spanish and doesn’t understand English, am I required to have my handbooks and other policies translated into Spanish? Is the handbook valid if the employee signs but does not understand the content? —A.B., California

Design smoker surcharges to cut costs, preserve morale

04/01/2006

More employers are increasing health premiums for smokers as a way to cut health costs. Such surcharges can trim costs, but implementation mistakes can alienate employees and hurt morale. Use the following tips to design smoker surcharges that reduce the most costs with the least employee backlash …

Mandatory arbitration: 7 ways to make it stick in court

04/01/2006

More employers are requiring employees to solve employment disputes through arbitration. But courts are quick to invalidate mandatory arbitration agreements that don’t meet the letter of the law. Don’t back off mandatory arbitration because of legal uncertainties; just make sure to follow these seven rules …

Must You Pay Employees for ‘Encouraged’ Volunteer Work?

04/01/2006

A new Labor Department opinion letter says that you don’t need to pay nonexempt employees for time spent working on volunteer civic events, such as building Habitat for Humanity houses, even if your organization encourages such activities and links them to the organization’s incentive-pay plan …

COBRA notices: Lessons from 3 recent court rulings

04/01/2006

Court rulings periodically alter your responsibilities in offering COBRA continuing health coverage. Keeping abreast of those changes helps you stay in compliance and out of court …

Solving the Case of the ‘Stinky Staffer’

04/01/2006

Q. We have a “stinky employee” problem. How do I go about telling this person that she has a horrible smell and it’s now affecting some of my other staff? —S.H., Washington

Accruing sick leave during workers’ comp leave

04/01/2006

Q. One of our employees is out on workers’ comp. Our contract says “no sick time will be lost or deducted” while employees are out on workers’ comp. But now he wants to know if he continues to accrue sick time and holiday pay while not working. Does he? —J.S., Michigan