Tag: california hr

Q&A on background checks for employment in California

By Chris Ceplenski Sep 3, 2013 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

Do state laws that require licensing – which often includes deep background screening – trump federal laws that limit background checks?

Can employers utilize information obtained from sources like Megan’s Law websites? (Megan’s Law is a commonly-used term for laws that relate to the creation of sex offender registries for public knowledge. Megan’s Law websites could be any site that lists sex offenders.)

What happens if a recently-hired employee talks about crimes committed that were not explored at the time of the application process?

Does Banishing Scents Make Sense at Work?

By HR Daily Advisor Staff Sep 2, 2013 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

It seems that the number of people with allergies or sensitivities to various scents and smells has grown substantially. Some of those allergies can be severe, causing severe respiratory difficulties and other serious health issues.

Expert answers on California employment policies

By Chris Ceplenski Aug 28, 2013 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

How should a small employer in California get started in creating an employee handbook? Are floating holidays subject to use-it-or-lose it policies in California like sick days? Or must they be treated like vacation days and paid upon termination?

Q&A on pay surveys and pay raises

By Chris Ceplenski Aug 26, 2013 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 19, 2015

For employers looking to utilize pay surveys to get market benchmarks, where should they look? Who is the best source for pay surveys? What about employers who already have benchmarks but want instead to implement raises on a limited budget—how should they determine how much of a raise to give for everyone versus how much to only top performers?

What Rights Do Part-Timers Have?

By HR Daily Advisor Staff Aug 21, 2013 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 19, 2015

What Is Considered ‘Part-Time’ Employment? There is no state or federal employment law that defines the term “part-time” or specifies the number of hours an employee must work per week to be considered part-time as opposed to full-time. Many employers classify part-time employees as those who regularly work fewer than 30 hours per week.

How to Deal with Depression and Work Restrictions: Give the Doctor a Note

By HR Daily Advisor Staff Aug 20, 2013 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

In requesting documentation to back up an accommodation request, employers should specify what types of information they are seeking regarding the disability, its functional limitations, and the need for reasonable accommodation. The employee can be asked to sign a limited release allowing the employer to submit a list of specific questions to the healthcare professional.