Firing

Can we refuse to pay out accrued vacation if employee suddenly quits?

03/23/2017

Q. Our company policy is not to pay an employee for unused vacation time if the employee resigns without giving the required two weeks’ notice. A former employee has challenged this policy and is threatening to take the company to court. Is this policy lawful?

Do we have to keep job open for Minn. employee on extended jury duty?

03/23/2017

Q. We are a small business and cannot afford to have employees out for extended leaves. One of our employees will be on jury duty for a trial that we’re told could continue for at least a month. Do we have to keep her job open to her when the trial is over?

You don’t have to offer reason for discharge

03/23/2017

Sometimes, if you want to help a terminated employee move on to better opportunities, it may also make sense to not offer a reason for the discharge, especially if stating the reason could interfere with his or her job hunt.

It’s OK to fire staff who protest taxes, file false W-4

03/16/2017

Consider a policy that allows for terminating employees who file false W-4s.

Zero-tolerance policy OK if evenly enforced

03/15/2017

A zero-tolerance policy regarding violence is usually fine. However, you must be prepared for a lawsuit if one of the people disciplined has previously complained about some form of discrimination.

Beware individual liability for wrongful terminations under Pennsylvania state law

03/03/2017

Under the Pennsylvania Human Rights Act, employees who are actively involved in termination decisions may be deemed personally liable for aiding and abetting violations of the law.

Last chance agreements make firing safer

03/03/2017

A last chance agreement can help solidify a termination because it puts the employee subject to the agreement on different footing than other employees.

Before you fire, consider records you will need if sued

02/17/2017

Whenever you fire someone, consider that he or she might sue you. Be prepared to show that the employee’s punishment was comparable to that of other employees who broke the same rule.

Willful misconduct bars unemployment

02/17/2017

An important reminder: Willful misconduct can bar a former employee from receiving unemployment benefits.

Lie on application? No unemployment benefits

02/17/2017

Employees caught lying on their employment applications about their educational level may not be entitled to unemployment compensation benefits.