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Policies / Handbooks

Help employees protect their identity from theft

06/01/2000

Q. A few employees have complained that we use their Social Security numbers as their ID numbers. They’re concerned about potential theft of their identity. Is it legal for employers to use Social Security numbers for ID purposes? —D.T., Illinois

Watch for warning signs of workers’ comp fraud

06/01/2000

Q. We’ve had a number of suspicious injuries at work this year. We don’t want to jump to conclusions, but how can we determine if these injuries are part of a workers’ comp insurance fraud scheme? —K.H., Mississippi

Specify if workers must stay to collect bonuses

06/01/2000

Q. Our company pays quarterly and annual bonuses (depending on the position). If an employee is here throughout the entire quarter/year, but leaves before the bonuses are paid out, is he still entitled to the bonus? Our company has no written documentation stating that you must be employed at the time the bonus is paid. —J.S., Colorado

Have clear conduct rules or risk ADA nightmare

05/01/2000
A fight with a co-worker drove Manuella Dionisio Reed to tears. She was so upset that she had to leave work and ended up in the hospital for days. Reed, …

You may have to pay for worker’s sexual harassment defense

05/01/2000
Russell Jacobus, the CFO of a six-person investment banking firm, had a friendly relationship with secretary Rosie Vera-Aviles that included sexual banter. At her request …

Don’t lose your at-will right by guaranteeing a job for life

05/01/2000
Officials at the Huntsman Corp. allegedly told James Scott Wesson that he “would always have a job” there. But Wesson’s employment contract made no mention of lifetime employment. When the company …

More reason to encourage safety: OSHA airing your dirty laundry

05/01/2000
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Web site now includes a list of 13,000 companies with the highest injury and illness rates. The goal: Shame companies …

Train all staff to head off violence

05/01/2000
While many companies train managers to identify the warning signs of violent behavior, only 24 percent offer such training to all employees, according to a recent …

Employee car accident may spell liability for company

05/01/2000

Q. An employee injured on the job recently was transported to the hospital by a co-worker. On the way back to work, they were in a car accident and both employees tested positive for illegal substances. What is our total liability? What can companies do to protect against this scenario? —T.K., Ohio

In-house whistle-blowers win protection

04/01/2000
Truck driving instructor Bud Barela tried to help his students “do the math” to figure out how they could earn pay and time off the company promised. But the numbers …