Firing

Not contesting unemployment: legal or illegal?

04/14/2016

Q. We have a challenging employee who is not really a poor performer, but is generally disliked by her co-workers. She is a gossip and games the system on our attendance policy. She seems to needlessly start minor squabbles with other employees. Recently, this employee approached HR and offered to resign if the company would agree not to fight her request for unemployment. We feel like this is a good opportunity to get rid of a problem employee without terminating her, and unemployment benefits would be a small price to pay. Is there any reason why we shouldn’t accept her resignation and agree to not challenge her unemployment claim?

Why employees steal, and how to handle it

04/13/2016

It can be as small as office supplies or as big as an embezzlement scheme, but your employees are likely stealing something from your company.

5 ways to minimize the adverse impact of off-duty conduct

04/13/2016

Attempts to regulate workers’ activities during off-duty hours pit employers, who want highly productive workers (and low insurance costs), against employees, who claim any restrictions amount to “lifestyle discrimination.”

Must you have ‘absolute proof’ of harassment before terminating?

04/11/2016

Employers don’t need to worry about establishing an airtight case against an employee who harasses a co-worker. HR investigations aren’t held to the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard of a court.

10 Steps to Stress-Free, Lawsuit-Free Termination Meetings

04/08/2016

Terminating an employee is probably the hardest thing an HR professional has to do—and the most legally dangerous. To handle terminations well, you need to keep calm, communicate your message without escalating the tension and stick to a plan. Here’s a 10-step course of action …

Considering rehiring? Ask how he left before

04/06/2016

How a worker handles his or her resignation may be good reason to refuse to rehire that worker later.

Worker fired for breaking policy: Chasing thieves

03/31/2016

There are two risks an employee takes if he tries to stop robbers in the act.

Keep exit clear during termination meeting

03/30/2016

Terminating an employee is never easy. Plan the meeting in a way that’s private; and don’t prevent the employee from leaving.

Keep discharge meeting short and simple

03/29/2016

Deliver discharge news at a short and focused meeting. Remind everyone that the purpose is to let the worker know he has been discharged and obtain badges and other company property. Don’t be goaded into an argument.

How to Wipe Out Fraud and Abuse Under FMLA

03/24/2016

The medical certification process is your most potent weapon for combating potential FMLA fraud. But obtaining a certification is only the first fraud-stopping step. Here are 10 more things you can do to keep employees from gaming the FMLA system.