• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly
Connection failed: SQLSTATE[HY000] [2002] No such file or directory

Ohio

When promotions are on the line, follow your criteria and beware supervisor bias

11/13/2009

When promotion processes bypass qualified candidates, discrimination lawsuits are almost sure to follow. That’s because employees can easily poke holes in complex candidate-ranking systems, and supervisor bias emerges when promotions are on the line. If you have set criteria for promotions, make sure you follow your own rules.

Offering extra leave beyond FMLA? You don’t have to extend job return rights

11/09/2009

Employees who take FMLA leave are entitled to be reinstated to their jobs if they return to work when their 12 weeks off expire. But many employers provide additional time off. But if employers grant that additional leave, they don’t have to reinstate the employee to the same or an equivalent position when she returns.

Consider ADA needs, FMLA requests separately

11/09/2009

Employees who aren’t disabled under the ADA can still be eligible for FMLA leave because a health condition can be serious without being a disability. That means you really need to consider requests for ADA accommodations separately from any requests for FMLA time off. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that denying an ADA accommodation means you can deny FMLA leave, too.

Said you would create jobs? Get ready to prove it

11/09/2009

If you’re one of the hundreds of Ohio employers that capitalized on job-creating state tax incentives a few years ago, expect to hear from state authorities shortly. Attorney General Richard Cordray has an assignment for you: Prove Ohio’s subsidy paid off in actual jobs.

How to prove work environment isn’t hostile: Track every bias, harassment complaint

11/09/2009

Employers can’t guarantee that employees will never feel offended by a co-worker’s comment about race, ethnicity, sex or other protected characteristics. But employers can and should make sure employees know what to do if they do feel offended or harassed—and then track exactly how the matter was handled.

Age discrimination alert: Beware using high training costs as excuse to deny promotion

11/09/2009

We all know that it costs money to train employees—and that turnover after investing in advanced training is a genuine and expensive problem. That doesn’t mean employers can get away with refusing to train someone approaching retirement age. That may be seen as age discrimination.

You don’t have to be right on discipline—just honest

11/09/2009

Disciplining employees often requires making tough calls, especially when the disciplinary action is based on the word of co-workers. You may be forced to choose whom to believe. Don’t be tempted to ignore the complaint just because you can’t be sure who’s right. As long as you are honest, courts will be reluctant to second-guess you.

Ohio disability law doesn’t cover temporary injuries

11/09/2009

Like the ADA, Ohio’s disability discrimination law covers only some injuries, illnesses and conditions. It doesn’t cover temporary injuries.

Cincinnati, Columbus shine on working mothers list

11/09/2009

Ohio fared well in a recent Forbes magazine ranking of how hospitable the nation’s 50 largest cities are to working moms. Cincinnati ranked the nation’s sixth-best metro area for working mothers, while Columbus came in 13th.

Can we require employees to get flu vaccine?

11/09/2009

Q. Can I require my employees to be vaccinated against the flu? I am concerned about the impact H1N1 will have on my business if it spreads among my employees, and a large group needs to take time off.