Policies / Handbooks

Ensure your handbook leaves out details about benefits

05/22/2023

Your handbook probably states you reserve the right to amend it at any time for any reason. That disclaimer helps protect against claims that your handbook is a binding contract. But that kind of language can cause problems if your handbook describes benefits that may be covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Beware dress codes with gender-specific rules

05/15/2023

If your dress and grooming code includes gender-specific requirements, you could be courting a sex-discrimination lawsuit.

Two legal must-haves for your employee handbook

05/12/2023

Compiling and updating your employee handbook is a daunting task that gets longer every day as employers grapple with a growing list of laws and policies to include in this document. But according to one legal counsel and another HR expert who presented at a recent employment law conference, there are only two legally mandated provisions that must be included in your handbook: information on the FMLA and an anti-harassment policy.

Meetings are bad—should we cancel them all?

05/10/2023

Setting a policy restricting meetings is well-intentioned and makes for nice headlines but doesn’t solve the underlying problem. The problem isn’t meetings, it is having meetings that are called for the wrong reasons, have an unclear purpose and/or have too many people in attendance.

Manage the balancing act when accommodating employees’ religious beliefs

05/08/2023

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion and requires employers to reasonably accommodate an employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs and practices, can sometimes clash with employers’ legitimate business needs and may cause employee-relations problems. Here’s how employers can balance their own needs with their duty to accommodate workers’ religious beliefs and practices.

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