Policies / Handbooks

Can you fire an employee for smelling like tobacco smoke?

09/17/2012

Since 2007, when Minnesota’s Freedom to Breathe Act took effect, smoking has been banned in Minnesota workplaces. Now, new studies about the harmful effects of “third-hand smoke” have caused some employers to take their no-smoking policies to new heights.

Religion, workplace safety tangled up at Le Center bakery

09/17/2012

Dianne’s Fine Desserts faces a complex conundrum after 30 Somali workers left work following a June labor dispute at the commercial bakery’s Le Center manufacturing plant. The workers claim they were told to leave. The company says it only barred the workers from the plant floor until they complied with a new dress code.

Formal policies, flex help cure absenteeism

09/14/2012

Absenteeism costs American businesses approximately 9% of payroll, according to several estimates. Here are a dozen ways to keep employees coming to work as scheduled, reserving sick leave for health problems—not as a catch-all bank of time off.

Avoid a frightening lawsuit this Halloween

09/13/2012

One simple way to give employees a morale boost is by loosening the dress code for a day and allowing employees to dress up for Halloween. It doesn’t cost any money or time—except for the few minutes you’ll need to set a few ground rules so this Halloween treat for employees doesn’t become a bad trick on the company.

Take your employee handbook online: 8 tips

09/13/2012

Turning your handbook into an electronic document can cut costs, make updating easier and give employees a convenient place to access policies. Going electronic isn’t technically difficult. But the process involves more than simply transferring written documents to a database or internal website.

At work and online: NLRB restricts employers’ social media rules

09/10/2012

Many employers have social media policies that attempt to control what employees say on social media. Policies that overreach may violate the NLRA. In response, the NLRB has issued a memorandum summarizing key points in its recent decisions concerning social media.

Fight in-house fraud by knowing who–and what–to watch for

09/04/2012

There are plenty of ways for organizations to lose money—bad business decisions, tough competition, fickle markets. But one of the most insidious fiscal perils: employees who steal. Here’s a sketch of whom and what to watch out for in your workplace.

‘Textual’ harassment? OMG! Develop policy B4 you face lawsuit

08/23/2012

One of the most dangerous smartphone functions (from the employer perspective) is also one of the simplest: sending text messages. Considering the rise in harassment claims based on texts, employers should develop policies addressing textual harassment in the workplace.

Track discipline in a way that allows easy recall

08/23/2012

You will never know which employee will sue or for what reason. That’s a good reason to carefully track all discipline and make the records easy to access.

Don’t bury arbitration agreement in handbook

08/21/2012

The Court of Appeal of California has ruled that an arbitration agreement hidden deep in the recesses of an employee handbook can’t be enforced. The provision didn’t stand out, didn’t require a signature and could be changed by the employer at any time. The court said that rendered it unconscionable.