Question: While covering shifts for an employee on a leave of absence, we discovered errors in their work. How do we take disciplinary action without seeming retaliatory for taking leave? Answer: Taking disciplinary action following a leave of absence is going to come with some additional...
Question: Lately, we’ve noticed employees using wearable devices while working. We have a policy that limits personal cell phone use at work. Can we expand that to include wearables like smartwatches? Answer: Yes, you can expand your policy to include wearables or other smart devices...
Question: What are protected classes or characteristics? Protected classes—also known as protected characteristics—come from several federal laws, though about half are from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Although we’re usually talking about them with respect to employment, they may also...
The office holiday party is a time-honored tradition: readers of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol may remember the Christmas party hosted by Ebenezer Scrooge’s old boss, Nigel Fezziwig. While the look and feel of these end-of-year holiday parties have changed since the 1840s, they remain...
With 10.7 million job openings in the US as of September 2022, employers are understandably looking for an edge when it comes to acquiring new talent. Filling open positions is more challenging now than ever, so it’s essential to stand out from the crowd. To...
Question: A new employee told coworkers that she received a signing bonus. Now they’re upset, saying they’ve been here longer and haven’t gotten anything extra. What should I do about this situation? Answer: First, don’t reprimand the new employee who shared her pay information. Discussing pay...
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released the "Know Your Rights" poster, which updates and replaces the previous “EEO Is the Law” poster, according to EEOC guidance. The poster summarizes key laws and explains that employees or applicants can file a charge if they...
The human resources function manages all things involving employees, including related rules, laws, policies and regulations. But as the HR function continues to evolve, greater emphasis is being placed on managing employees through People Operations. What is People Operations? Also called "People Ops," People Operations is...
Election Day is almost here, so as an employer, now is a good time to brush up on voting leave laws. Most states require that employers provide at least a few hours off to vote, and many of those require at least some of that time...
COVID-19 upended our lives and changed the way millions of Americans work. One of the most dramatic employment changes during the pandemic was the significant increase in employees working from home: 42% of employed workers worked from home in 2020, nearly double the percentage working from...