Category: HR Hero Line

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

Ways for Workers and Businesses to Save Money by Cutting Gas and Energy Use

Your employees are probably feeling the pinch, and in many workplaces, talk has already turned to winter survival and energy costs if heating oil, natural gas, and electricity are as expensive as it looks like they will be. You’d like to help, but businesses are feeling the pinch, too. Rising energy costs make it more […]

Helping Workers Deal With Financial Stress

The current recession has taken its toll on the United States, and many Americans are still fighting to stay financially afloat.  Consumer confidence is down. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute,  consumer bankruptcies rose by  24 percent nationwide in August from the same period a year ago, and during the first six months of 2009, […]

When Must Employers Pay Mileage Reimbursements?

by Gary Jiles Q: The continuing increase in gas prices has caused me some concern lately because I often have to send my employees on work-related errands or trips. When and how much am I required to reimburse my employees for mileage, or am I even required to reimburse them at all? And do mileage […]

Primer on Travel Time Pay for Workers

by Leslie Sammon When does an employee’s drive to work become paid time? The Fair Labor Standards Act provides the federal rules governing pay for travel time. Employees covered by the minimum wage and overtime requirements (non-exempt employees) under federal law must be paid for all hours worked. Some states also have laws addressing travel […]

Words That Might Sound Like Age Discrimination

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of age discrimination claims. In fact, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), age discrimination charges rose by approximately 15 percent in fiscal year 2007. Many observers attribute that trend to the fact that more employees are choosing to work longer and […]

Can I Fire a Bankrupt Employee?

by Robert P. Tinnin, Jr. Q: I’m the owner of a business that sells big-ticket home furnishings. While reading the paper today, I discovered that my credit manager has filed for bankruptcy. Obviously, when the word gets around, it will really make me look like a fool! I want to fire him immediately, but a […]

Effective Employment Reference Policies

Widespread among employers today is a “neutral reference” strategy in providing employment references for current or former employees. In fact, many attorneys have urged clients to adopt this policy to decrease exposure to liability. Of course, when you’re the one seeking a reference on a job applicant, this type of policy severely limits the information […]

Payroll Deductions That Don’t Affect Employees’ Exempt Status

by Gary Fealk Workers who qualify as executive, administrative, or professional employees may be exempt from the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) if they are paid on a salaried basis or not less than $455 per week. However, if an employee’s basis of compensation isn’t “salaried,” the exemption will be lost. […]

EEO-1 Reporting: What Employers Need to Know

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) require certain employers to report their workforce demographics each year. The report, commonly referred to as an EEO-1 report, must typically be filed between August 1 and September 30. This article provides an overview of the reporting requirements and updates […]

Perils of Sending Political Emails at Work

by David Micah Kaufman “Oh my!” my lunch colleague exclaimed after glancing at her Blackberry (R) during a break in the conversation. “I am being invited to Candidate X’s fundraiser by my boss. Why does she think I support him/her?” ‘Tis the season — election season — when perfectly normal people who usually would never […]