Policies / Handbooks

Avoid surprise OT claims with this simple policy

05/08/2023

The Fair Labor Standards Act imposes stiff penalties on employers that cheat employees out of overtime pay. They must pay double what they should have paid in the first place. But there’s a simple way to avoid that liability: Have a policy that makes it easy for employees to report being underpaid. Then promptly investigate if someone reports not receiving the overtime pay they were expecting.

5 tips to support transgender employees in the workplace

04/10/2023

Transgender people are under attack. They often experience discrimination, harassment and a lack of understanding, including from their work colleagues and bosses. As an employer, it is important to create a safe and inclusive environment for all employees, including those who identify as transgender or gender-nonconforming. Here are five steps you can take.

Essential questions to ask when considering drug testing

03/27/2023

Many employers struggle with whether (and why) to test their employees for illegal drug use. The question is fraught with compliance challenges and implementation problems.

Case of the Week: Apply your dress and grooming policies consistently

03/24/2023

You probably have a policy that spells out your dress and grooming rules, which may limit certain employee clothing choices that might offend customers, clients or co-workers. But how you enforce that rule may mean the difference between winning quick dismissal of a discrimination lawsuit or a big jury award against your organization.

Fail-to-post fines grow to $659 per violation

03/24/2023

Fines have increased for failing to properly display compliance posters for Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the ADA and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. Effective March 23, the fines increased from $612 per violation to $659 per violation.

10 crucial reminders about your records policy

03/08/2023

Think managing and protecting your HR and business records is easy? Think again. Ideally, you already have a records-management policy in place. An up-to-date records policy is vital if your company has moved to remote or hybrid work and not made updates. Here are 10 points to keep in mind when drafting remote-records policies.

Medical marijuana and positive drug tests: Employer rights

03/06/2023

As more states legalize medicinal and recreational use of marijuana, employers have to grapple with confusing and seemingly contradictory rules.

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.