Tag: documentation

Knowing When It’s Time to Part Ways: Employee and Contractor Termination Protocols

Termination of employment is an inevitable part of business operations. Whether it’s due to performance, company restructuring, or behavioral concerns, letting an employee or contractor go is never an easy decision. Yet, it’s essential for the overall health of the company. In this article, we delve into understanding the signs that indicate it’s time to […]

Importance of Evaluating Your Employees—The Good and the Bad

As we approach the end of another year, some of you may be gearing up for the year-end performance evaluation season. Conducting proper performance evaluations can play a critical role in your organization’s ability to address issues with poor performing employees, as well as retain your good employees. The purpose of this article is to […]

What to Do When You Get Sued: A Handy HR Guide to Litigation

Many HR professionals may relate to the “oh no, what now?” moment when they first learn an employment-related lawsuit has been filed. Although employers would prefer to avoid litigation entirely, it’s important for HR departments to have systems in place to assist with prelitigation and discovery needs. The litigation process can be separated into four […]

No Favorable Treatment of ‘Similarly Situated’ Individuals Dooms Gender Discrimination Claim

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbids discrimination based on certain protected categories (e.g., gender) in any aspect of employment. Discrimination can present itself in the form of “hostile work environment,” “disparate treatment,” or the “disparate impact” of a particular employment practice. Disparate treatment cases involve claims in which an employee alleges […]

Case Study: Fired Employee with Bad Attitude Fails on Religious Discrimination Claim

A car salesman who was terminated following customer complaints of a bad attitude cannot get to a jury on his religious discrimination claim according to the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all Oklahoma employers). The appeals court affirmed the trial court’s grant of summary judgment (dismissal without a trial) in […]

Discipline Notes Critical in FMLA Claims

One of the things that happens with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a disconnect between the complex structure of the FMLA and its practical application. Plaintiffs’ attorneys will sometimes assert that they don’t understand how there could be an FMLA issue given that the structure is “so easy to understand.” That’s typically […]

Watch Out for Scope Creep in Flexible Work Arrangements

Despite best intentions and nondiscriminatory business motivations, some groups of employees may reap more of the benefits of flexible work arrangements than others simply because their circumstances make such options more attractive to them. Accordingly, you should take steps to ensure flexible work arrangements are offered and implemented without discrimination on any prohibited basis. In […]

New Government Contractor AAP Verification Process in the Works

Last fall, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) received approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to implement a new online platform—the Affirmative Action Program Verification Interface (AAP-VI)—to collect information from covered federal contractors (including covered subcontractors) about their AAPs. Read on to learn when the portal will go live, although […]

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What to Do If Employees Say They Can’t Wear Masks

In light of many state regulations requiring face masks in most indoor work settings, many employers are wondering how to deal with employees who say they cannot wear a mask because of a medical condition or religious belief. Before responding, you should understand your responsibilities under the various discrimination and employee leave laws.