Resignations

Don’t let employees bully you into dictating their employment terms

07/01/2004

You don’t need to let an employee set a bad example by trying to force concessions from you that aren’t required in a collective-bargaining agreement or employment contract. Turn the tables …

More reason to stop harassment: Even ‘resignees’ can sue

07/01/2004

Issue: Whether employees who resign have the same right to file harassment lawsuits as those who are fired. Risk/benefit: A new Supreme Court ruling says “Yes,” quitters can sue. But …

To keep noncompetes legal, include fair restrictions

06/01/2004

Issue: Noncompete agreements are more easily signed than enforced. Risk: One sure way to crush your noncompete’s legality is to include overly restrictive time and geographical limits. Action: Make …

Requiring training won’t constitute retaliation, court says

05/01/2004

Don’t worry about assigning an employee to a job in which she’ll need to upgrade her skills, even if that employee previously filed a lawsuit against your organization. Reason: As long …

To avoid ‘glass-ceiling’ lawsuits, study fairness of pay, promotions

05/01/2004

Glass-ceiling lawsuits, in which women or minorities claim they’re prevented advancement beyond a certain point, are tough to prove, but not impossible. If an employee can show a pattern of discrimination, …

Clarify your vacation policy or cough up extra pay

02/01/2004

Issue: Must you always pay employees for their unused vacation time when they depart your organization?
Risk: An unclear vacation policy could allow terminated employees to sue you and collect …

Require proof of jury service

02/01/2004

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Is quitting the same as being fired?

01/01/2004

The Supreme Court agreed last month to clarify a vexing question about employer liability in sexual harassment cases: Do employees who quit and then claim harassment possess the same rights as …

Reverse age bias is rarely an issue with early retirees

01/01/2004

Q. Are there any specific rules defining “early out” retirement packages offered to employees? Our company is planning to offer early outs. Our criteria mandate that an employee must have worked 15 years and be at least 50 years old. But we have employees who have worked as long as 28 years, but fail to meet the 50-year-old criterion. Is this age discrimination in a reverse sort of way? —T.G., Florida

Cut turnover with business-card handout

11/01/2003

A California chiropractor successfully improved morale (and, he believes, cut turnover) by simply giving every employee a set of customized business cards sporting their job titles. …