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HR Management

Stop disgruntled staff from hijacking your Web domains

02/01/2004
Issue: Former employees with an ax to grind against your organization can register Web domain names that your organization may want for itself. Benefit: You can prevent them from doing …

Light a fire under execs to perform an ‘energy audit’

02/01/2004
Issue: Some utilities and government groups offer businesses free energy audits. Benefit: By suggesting such audits, you position yourself as a strategic thinker looking out for the organization’s bottom line. …

Use software to block employee music downloads

02/01/2004
Just one hip-hopping employee downloading tunes can sap your computer resources, expose you to legal problems and kill productivity. Advice: Make sure your computer-use policy prohibits music downloads and outlines punishments. …

4 ways to improve your disability-management program

02/01/2004
Issue: Poorly managed disability-management programs and rising costs can reduce your organization’s profits. Benefit: By making disability programs more efficient, you boost the bottom line and your stature in the …

Keep health data private: ‘HIPAA time’ nears for small firms

02/01/2004
Issue: The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) places new privacy requirements on employers. Risk: Smaller businesses must start complying in April. Fines range from $100 per violation …

Vague policy could entitle employees to extra vacation pay

02/01/2004
Issue: Must unused vacation time always be paid when employees leave?
Risk: An unclear vacation policy could allow terminated employees to sue your organization and collect additional pay.
Action: …

Don’t lash out at workers who take jury-duty leave

02/01/2004
Issue: Can a small organization point to its size as a valid reason to deny jury-duty leave?
Risk: State law exemptions won’t necessarily protect you from this type of lawsuit. …

Liability

02/01/2004
Issue: Retaliation complaints by employees doubled in the past decade.
Risk: Even if you escape liability on an initial employment lawsuit, you could be smacked with a secondary retaliation charge. …

Employment contracts: Can your workers claim an ‘implied’ contract?

02/01/2004
Issue: Drafting a legally sound employment contract and avoiding “implied contract” claims.
Benefit/risk: While employment contracts can offer your organization additional legal rights, they also expose you to new legal …

Clarify your vacation policy or cough up extra pay

02/01/2004
Issue: Must you always pay employees for their unused vacation time when they depart your organization?
Risk: An unclear vacation policy could allow terminated employees to sue you and collect …