Tag: employment

Ask the Expert: Refusal to Sign Employee Handbook Acknowledgement Form

In our latest installment of Ask the Expert, we are featuring a recent subscriber question that was sent into HR Hero®‘s HR Hotline, looking for advice how to proceed when an employee refuses to sign an updated handbook acknowledgement. Q: We have an employee who does not want to sign the new Employee Handbook acknowledgment form. What […]

Dispute Over Unsigned Arbitration Agreement Means Judge Must Wear Detective’s Cap

On July 18, 2022, the New Jersey Appellate Division provided a perfect reminder why all employers and HR professionals should diligently confirm that new hires complete all on-boarding paperwork. It reversed a trial court’s order compelling arbitration, finding that the terminated employee’s failure to sign or acknowledge receipt of an arbitration agreement presented a factual […]

5th Circuit Rejects Fired Transgender Employee’s Discrimination Claim

An employer wasn’t liable to a former employee who alleged he was terminated because he was transgender, the 5th Circuit recently ruled, upholding a Houston federal district court decision. The appeals court said the former employee failed to allege he was treated differently than cisgender employees. The court’s opinion offers guidance on an emerging area […]

Can a 17-Year-Old Sign to Authorize a Background Check?

Background checks have become a fairly standard component of the hiring process. Most employers perform some form of background screening, though it varies in terms of how in-depth it is and what is covered. This can not only help the employer with decision-making but also ensure the employer uncovers potential issues.

arbitration

Employee ‘Unaware’ of Signed Arbitration Agreement Compelled to Arbitrate

When launching an arbitration agreement, you must understand the pros and cons of requiring your employees to sign one as well as which workers should be covered and the hurdles of enforcement. Depending on the potential value of the claim to be arbitrated, the filing fee could result in a five-figure charge just to initiate […]

When to Use Section 3 of the I-9 Form

When you hire a new employee, it’s usually second nature to complete the I-9 process. The I-9 (employment eligibility) process is fairly straightforward, and employers must complete it in a timely manner. Employees complete Section 1 either before they start or on the day they begin employment, and the employer reviews the documents they provide […]

Criminal Background Checks: Cautious Employers Could Cost Their Company

As a cautious employer, let’s say you run a criminal background check on all of your applicants. Your latest candidate’s report comes up with an arrest record from just a few months ago for theft but no conviction. What do you do? In a situation like this, it is best to call counsel because the […]

travel

How to Handle Spring Break Travel in a COVID-19 World

After being cooped up for nearly a year because of COVID-19, many employees may be looking to take spring break getaways in the coming months. As is the case with most issues involving the pandemic, however, the travel opportunity creates several employment law concerns and considerations for employers to navigate.

Why HR Should Care About the Company Website

Creating, maintaining, and updating your organization’s Web presence is not typically HR’s job, but the HR team should have a vested interest in how the website looks and functions and how well it coordinates with the rest of the company’s online presence.