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HR Management

The HR I.Q. Test: December ’13

12/03/2013
Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, comp & benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz …

7 questions to ask about your year-end bonus plan

12/03/2013
If your company will hand out holiday bonuses this year, do it with purpose. Here are seven questions to ask before you start writing the checks.

ACA SHOPs postponed one year, HHS urges using brokers instead

12/02/2013
Small business owners won’t be able go online to buy health insurance for their employees until November 2014. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services suggests doing it the old-fashioned way—through a broker.

What steps should we take to ensure supervisors issue consistent discipline?

12/02/2013
Q. We are having a hard time keeping discipline consistent between supervisors. To promote consistency, upper management would like to implement a new discipline policy setting out what disciplinary steps should be followed. Do you recommend this?

Stormy weather: How to pay when Old Man Winter causes absences

12/02/2013

When harsh winter weather bumps up against the FLSA, the result can be a blizzard of pay problems for you. Employees often come in late, leave early or miss work altogether. How should you count their hours—and their pay? Here’s a flowchart that breaks down your options.

Ensure computer policy is clear: No using tech for nonbusiness purposes

12/02/2013
Here’s good news you can use to warn employees against misusing company computers and other technology for their own benefit, to compete or to commit fraud: Employees can’t argue that because they received the equipment to use, they are authorized to access information for purposes unrelated to business.

Avoid needless reference to culture differences

12/02/2013
There is a fine line between a rational discussion of cultural differences and stereotyping. If you are tempted to educate employees on appropriate workplace behavior, stick with a straightforward description of what behaviors you want to see, not how they differ from other cultural norms.

Oh, no! B.O.! Is body odor a disability? Plus, 7 tips for having ‘the talk’

11/28/2013
By itself, excessive body odor is not generally considered a disability under the ADA. However, if employees tell you the odor is a symptom of a serious health condition, you should follow your normal ADA procedures.

Accommodating religion in the 21st century workplace

11/27/2013
Employers are often reluctant to raise concerns over the impact of an employee’s religious practices. Those issues generally aren’t considered to be job-related, and the fear is that addressing them might cause a discrimination lawsuit.

Isolated attack not grounds for harassment lawsuit

11/27/2013
Employers can control some hazardous work conditions, but not all of them. What a particular customer or client may do when he comes in contact with an employee likely falls into the uncontrollable category.