Category: HR Hero Line

HR best practices, employment law tips, news and analysis, Q&As, and lessons learned from the courtroom.

Weather woes give employers much to think about

Natural disasters wreak havoc on all facets of a community. The death toll from fire, flood, wind, snow, and ice is the most obvious concern, but the property damage that can leave people homeless or dealing with serious damage causes problems long after the initial storm passes.  Employers, too, have to deal with loss, damage, […]

‘Tis the season for holiday protests: Retailers, know your rights

by Katherine Siuta O’Shea With the holiday season upon us, nonemployee protesters, whether they’re labor organizers or others, often target retailers in an effort to maximize the reach of their message during the increased seasonal foot traffic. Repeated efforts by nonemployee protesters can be a source of concern for retailers and can have a negative […]

mental

Stress: If you can’t beat it, maybe you can use it

Stress. Just the word triggers anxiety. Human resources professionals well understand the toll stress can take on workers’ health and productivity, but is there a way to leverage stress so that it does more good than harm? Can a change in a stressed out employee’s mindset turn a worrisome experience into an exercise in personal […]

Tricks at work are no treat for employers

by Teresa Shulda Halloween is a lot of fun for both kids and adults. When else can we wear inappropriate costumes, gorge on unlimited candy, and create a Walking Dead display in our front yard? But when the spectral mist of Halloween creeps into the workplace, things can get really scary. Here are some real-life […]

Tips for protecting your most valuable assets

by Scott A. Holt Significant time, money, and resources often go into developing client relationships, so it is only natural that businesses take steps to protect those intangible assets. Many employers require employees who have significant contact with clients to sign nonsolicitation agreements. However, executing and enforcing nonsolicitation agreements are two different matters. Like traditional […]

Moonlighting during FMLA leave

by Andy Rodman One of employers’ most common complaints about administering Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave is employees’ tendency to abuse intermittent leave. What if you find out that an employee out on FMLA leave for 10 weeks to care for her spouse, who has a serious health condition, was seen working for […]

Minimum salary requirements key to analysis of proposed FLSA overtime regs

by Robert P. Tinnin, Jr. Under the newly proposed overtime regulations for the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the most significant changes are to the minimum salary threshold that must be met for an employee to qualify as exempt. It’s important to understand what types of compensation are included in determining whether “minimum threshold salary” […]

Late time cards a headache but no reason to withhold pay

You’d think employees would be eager enough for their paychecks that they would make sure to turn in time sheets promptly. But that’s not always the case, and employers may be tempted to withhold pay as a not-so-gentle reminder for workers to submit their hours on time. That’s temptation best avoided, though, according to attorneys […]

Moving toward the latest trend in office design? Don’t forget legal concerns

Office workers want to be comfortable and productive at work, and they all have different ideas on how to accomplish that goal. Some want to sit. Others want to stand. Some want privacy for focused work. Others want open space for collaborative work. Still others want comfy-cozy nooks where they can curl up with a […]

EEOC ‘cause’ finding may be harmful but doesn’t mean an automatic loss

by Deanna L. Forbush Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigations typically end when the EEOC issues a notice of dismissal and right-to-sue letter granting the charging party 90 days to file a lawsuit under one or more of the federal statutes the agency enforces—Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination […]