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Training

South Bend contractor hit with max fine for fall-Protection error

10/01/2007

OSHA inspectors slapped steel contractor National Store Fixtures Division of United Fixtures in South Bend with a $79,500 fine for failing to protect workers at a construction site last year. Following a tip, OSHA conducted a site inspection and found employees working more than 15 feet off the ground without fall protection while installing steel walls …

Remind supervisors: No temper tantrums allowed

10/01/2007

One of the quickest ways to turn an annoying—but perhaps unfounded—discrimination complaint into a winning lawsuit is to react inappropriately. That’s why it’s critically important for HR professionals to remind managers and supervisors: Don’t comment on pending complaints! Plus, remind them that venting in front of employees can backfire …

Act fast on FMLA leave requests—Delay triggers a violation

10/01/2007

If you don’t train supervisors to immediately forward all FMLA requests to the HR office, you may find your organization on the losing end of an FMLA-interference lawsuit. An important new court ruling shows it doesn’t matter whether the employee’s FMLA leave request eventually is approved …

Analyze EAP caller data to learn about employee concerns

10/01/2007

You might be surprised to learn that men call employee assistance programs (EAP) because of relationship troubles more often than women, and only 7% more men than women ask for help with substance abuse. It’s still true that women use the services of EAP counselors about three times as often as men. But what men and women call about is changing …

Is there a class action lurking in your employee handbook?

10/01/2007

Now may be a good time to review your employee handbook for potential big trouble. The problem: Because handbooks spell out policies that apply to many or all employees, they can be used to justify escalating a simple lawsuit into a class-action suit …

St. Augustine florist sues over manager’s wilting remarks

10/01/2007

When Michaels, a chain of arts-and-crafts stores headquartered in Irving, TX, transferred manager Daniel Zimmerman into its St. Augustine store, upper management received numerous complaints from staff about his rudeness. Joseph Lewis, a floral designer suing the company for age and gender discrimination and retaliation, said employees began “dropping like flies” after Zimmerman joined the store …

Never on Sunday if employee claims religious need

10/01/2007

The U.S. Justice Department recently settled a complaint with Palm Beach County to accommodate a park ranger’s request to be given Sundays off so he could attend church and obey the rules of his religious faith …

Tell managers: No paternalistic protection allowed

10/01/2007

Check patronizing attitudes—and comments—at the workplace door. Protective attitudes have no place at work and even a comment or two may spur on a sex-discrimination lawsuit. That’s why HR must tell managers and supervisors: Lay off the “I know what’s good for the delicate sex” comments. They are direct evidence of sex discrimination and a sure way to court …

Disabled woman says McDonald’s refused to serve her

10/01/2007

An Illinois woman who suffers from Holt-Oram syndrome, a condition where the sufferer’s arms and hands are underdeveloped, sued McDonald’s after employees refused to allow her to pick up her drive-through ordered food with her feet …

Even isolated comments can trigger age discrimination suits

10/01/2007

Train managers and supervisors: No age-related comments! None. A simple sentence might not form the entire basis for an age discrimination lawsuit, but it can add fuel to an otherwise-smoldering case …