Policies / Handbooks

Revise handbook to address remote harassment

02/21/2023

If you haven’t reviewed your employee handbook in the last year or so and updated it to reflect new laws and important HR trends, you should do so soon. Otherwise, you’re probably working with an outdated and legally risky document that may do more harm than good. Here are some proactive handbook changes to consider making now to address harassment issues that can arise when employees work remotely.

Management fundamentals: No-fault attendance dangers

02/10/2023

Supervisors new to management often love the idea of a no-fault attendance policy. Such policies are meant to minimize disruption caused by unplanned absences by discouraging workers from calling off. But no-fault policies can trip up inexperienced supervisors who don’t understand how a seemingly simple approach to unplanned absences can trigger federal or state discrimination lawsuits.

Accommodate hairstyles based on religious beliefs

02/03/2023

Discrimination lawsuits involving hairstyles are all the rage—as are new laws and regulations protecting natural and ethnic hairstyles.

Protect your company with a sound termination policy

01/18/2023

Terminating employees, particularly involuntarily, is a part of the job that most business owners and HR managers dread. Firing or laying off staff members is a tough decision, but it sometimes needs to be done due to misconduct or business changes. And when it does, it’s vital to have a legally sound termination policy in place.

Remote worker checklist: Ensure your company has essential policies in place

01/04/2023

While remote work has skyrocketed in the past few years, many companies still need to institute a telecommuting policy. This is crucial, according to Anniken Davenport, Esq., an HR Specialist legal contributor.

Follow these key FMLA intermittent leave call-off rules

01/04/2023

Managing employees authorized to take FMLA on an intermittent basis can be a massive headache. You never know when the employee will call off work. But disciplining the employee for missing work can backfire. Here’s how to create call-off rules that comply with the law.

Appeals court: Federal contractors don’t have to ensure their employees are vaccinated

12/22/2022

In a 2-1 decision, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s preliminary injunction blocking a federal mandate requiring federal contractors to ensure their employees are vaccinated against COVID as a condition of receiving government work.

Manage workplace politics in or out of election season

12/21/2022

Politics are always with us nowadays. When tensions are high, it is essential to keep a respectful workplace, whether or not it’s voting season.

Montana judge strikes down vaccine discrimination

12/21/2022

Montana’s state law prohibited employers from inquiring about vaccination status, including whether a worker or applicant was vaccinated against COVID-19, mumps, measles or other diseases.

Harassment: Here’s why you want to make reporting it easy

12/20/2022

It is vital to encourage employees to report anything they think could be classified as sexual, racial or other harassment. Make reporting easy, offering multiple complaint avenues. Instruct supervisors and managers to say something if they see something.