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HR Management

Got off-site workers? Heed these 6 important legal risks

07/07/2011
Beyond choosing the right positions for telework, employers must address important legal issues before adopting a telecommuting policy. Be prepared to consider how such a policy will be affected by the Fair Labor Stand­­ards Act, OSHA, the ADA, workers’ compensation rules, privacy concerns and tax laws.

Sued for bias? Prepare to hand over personnel files

07/06/2011
Personnel records contain information that’s prime material in any employment discrimination lawsuit. An employee who alleges discrimination is entitled to see how she compares with other similarly situated employees, and can do that by reviewing relevant personnel files.

Overly sensitive employee or bully boss? Trust your HR instincts to decide who’s right

07/06/2011

Sometimes, HR professionals have to make judgment calls about who is telling the truth. In fact, just about every workplace investigation requires assessing the credibility of employees, co-workers and managers who disagree about what happened. Take, for example, an employee who complains about a supervisor’s harassment or hostility.

Having a hard time hiring? Blame today’s skills mismatch

07/05/2011
Just because your organization is ready to hire again doesn’t mean it will be easy to find the right people to fill your available jobs. Here are four realities you’re almost certain to face as you try to fill the vacancies in your organization.

The HR I.Q. Test: July ’11

07/05/2011
Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, comp & benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz.

Can we ban personal cell phones at work?

07/04/2011
Q. Almost all our employees carry personal cell phones and seem to be calling or texting during work hours. Can we require them to put their phones in their lockers at the beginning of their shifts?

How to manage ‘job creep’ in today’s jobless recovery

06/30/2011
More than half of all employees have taken on new roles during the eco­nomic downturn, according to a recent Spherion Staffing survey. That’s “job creep,” and it’s a big problem. Job creep has important employment law implications and it also means many of your job ­descriptions are probably outdated.

The EEOC, maximum leave policies and the new ADA amendments

06/30/2011
The EEOC is getting serious about helping disabled Americans. In early June, the agency held a public meeting on the use of leave as a reasonable accommodation. That move came just two weeks after the agency put its new ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) regulations into effect.

Lorain steel company faces $563,000 in OSHA penalties

06/30/2011

Steel manufacturer Republic Engineered Products must answer to OSHA for seven allegedly willful violations and three alleged repeat safety violations at its Lorain plant. OSHA has proposed penalties total­ing $563,000.

Does our I-9 software comply with the law?

06/30/2011
Q. We use an electronic I-9 software system that was developed in-house. How can we ensure it complies with federal law?