Policies / Handbooks

Combat co-worker harassment with effective policy, prompt action

05/06/2013

You can’t prevent all sexual harassment, but you can do plenty to avoid liability when it does happen, at least when the harasser is a co-worker. Start with a clear anti-harassment policy, and make sure everyone understands it.

When romance blooms at work, be ready with a practical policy

05/01/2013

Roughly four out of 10 workers have dated a co-worker, according to a survey by Spherion Corporation. When office romances sour, scorned lovers often sue, alleging that their former lover was a sexual harasser. And even if the lovers are happy, workplace romances can cause problems in the office or on the shop floor. Based on all of these legal risks, should your organization forbid office romances?

Operate in several states? Beware arbitration pacts referencing states other than California

04/23/2013

Employers that do business in several states often have a single employee handbook covering all workers at all locations. If that describes your organization, be careful about how you handle details like arbitration agreements.

Telework not working? Repair, don’t reject

04/23/2013

If your organization’s telework program has hit a snag, try repairing it before you abandon it. Otherwise, you could face fallout from unhappy former telecommuters. They’ll either look for another flex-friendly employer or—worse—bring hard feelings with them when they report to the office.

Can we ban employee T-shirts with strong messages?

04/17/2013

Q. One of our workers often wears T-shirts that have slogans with a strong political bent. Some employees have complained. Is it a violation of employees’ free speech rights to ban such clothing?

Any downsides to a no-fault attendance policy?

04/11/2013

Q. We are thinking about implementing a no-fault attendance policy. We hope it will provide clearer absenteeism rules and make it easier for managers to enforce. Are there any downsides?

After Yahoo and Best Buy bans, what’s the real deal on flex?

03/22/2013

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer recently announced that employees who had telecommuted must now return to their cubicles at the struggling company’s headquarters. Before long, electronics retailer Best Buy followed suit.

Can we make flu shots mandatory?

03/20/2013

Q. Because this season’s flu outbreak was so severe, next fall we would like to require all our employees to get a flu vaccine. We hope this will cut down on employee absences during flu season. Would such a policy be lawful?

‘Cyberloafing’ is an epidemic: Add teeth to your policy

03/15/2013

The bad news: Up to 80% of employees’ time spent on the Internet has nothing to do with their work. Worse news: Having just a policy won’t deter them.

New employee in skimpy attire: Can we create a dress code without singling her out?

03/13/2013

Q. Our company is very casual and has no dress code. A recent hire is a young woman who wears low-cut tops and short skirts. Our staff is predominantly male and this has become a distraction and frequent conversation topic. How can we implement a dress code now without appearing to single anyone out?