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HR Management

How to protect yourself from Internet-Related liability

07/01/2008
The Internet is an invaluable tool in many workplaces, but lately it’s become a somewhat unexpected cause of employment law litigation. Two issues lead the wired way to the courthouse for employers: gathering information about job candidates through web sites and potential liability for what their employees do while using the Internet …

If you use a job application kiosk, warn applicants that lying is a crime

07/01/2008
If, like many employers these days, you cut down on recruiting costs by using a computer-based kiosk application system, consider adding a warning before applicants begin the process. Colorado makes it a crime for a person to knowingly access “any computer, computer network, or computer system … to obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, money, property, services … or other thing of value” …

It’s time to revamp the way you calculate turnover

07/01/2008
There’s a big difference between losing three slugs versus three stars in your department within a month. Yet, at most organizations, those losses would be calculated the same—as an overall percentage of employees—when figuring turnover rate. The problem: Such a simple metric doesn’t account for performance differences among departing employees …

Must you provide employees with printed copies of annual reviews?

07/01/2008
Q. We have a supervisor who does annual review meetings with his employees, but doesn’t give them a printed copy. He told our HR department that he keeps the reviews at home and doesn’t want to give us copies. Must we retain copies in our official employee file? — A.R., Minnesota …

How long must we retain employee records?

07/01/2008
Q. How long should a company keep its basic employment records once an employee has been terminated? …

Can emergency contact info be mandatory?

07/01/2008
Q. We’re cleaning up our personnel files and updating emergency contact information. Some employees don’t want to provide their contact information. Is it legal for us to require them to give it to us? …

Hand Out Paychecks in Most Efficient, Legally Safe Way

07/01/2008

Putting paychecks (or pay stubs) in employees’ hands is a basic HR chore: No glory, but it must be done right. What’s the best way to do it? HR specialists around the country chimed in on this topic. Here are some of their best ideas … 

Deflecting cupid’s arrow: Should you even try to prevent interoffice dating?

07/01/2008
Office romances may start off hot, but they can quickly cool down into disputes, hard feelings and even lawsuits. Don’t put a complete ban on romantic relationships between any co-workers. It’s unrealistic and impossible to police. Instead, prohibit dating between employees who report directly to one another …

Can we require time off as theft-Prevention measure?

07/01/2008
Q. As a theft-prevention measure, we require all employees with check-signatory power to take a 40-hour work period off every year. Can we require those employees to use accrued leave, such as vacation? Or, do we have to give them an extra paid week off? — P.B., Oklahoma …

Don’t count on vague leave language to limit care for employees’ family members

07/01/2008
The California Legislature concluded back in 1999 that employees should be able to use any sick leave their employers provide to care for sick family members—whether or not the employers’ policies allow them to do so. Employers can’t skirt that entitlement by not using the term “sick leave” or otherwise creating policies that are hard to pin down …