Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Yesterday, we got some insights on background checks from Jared Callahan, a licensed private investigator and the director of client services for Employment Screening Resources (ESR) in Novato. Today, his thoughts on two more common “checks”: fingerprint checks and reference checks.
How do you know whether to classify someone as an independent contractor or employee? Is it enough to have a contract in place that specifies that someone is not considered an employee? While most employees hope they have it right, misclassifying employees as independent contractors costs the federal government $2.72 billion every year, according to […]
Without question, a job counter offer can be a useful tool if the situation fits. Under the right circumstances it might save a key employee from leaving—at least temporarily. However, in most cases they may create more problems than they solve, so employers should take care in assessing whether a job counter offer is truly […]
How do you craft a social media policy and internet use policy that helps to maintain your business image and reputation, your right to duty of loyalty, and your right to privacy without infringing upon your employees’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression? How specific do you need to be in your employee handbooks […]
How do we ensure that our job descriptions contain the true essential functions of the job? Why is this important? The short answer is that essential functions must be assessed when evaluating whether a disabled individual can perform a job; in the absence of a job description accurately listing the essential functions, an employer is […]
Employees are motivated to perform in several ways, some from positive reinforcement and some from negative reinforcement, which is where progressive discipline comes in. Another rationale for the use of progressive discipline is to instill a sense of fairness in employment termination decisions. When you let someone go, employees want notice in order for it […]
When it comes to how you draft your commission agreement contracts in California, do you know how the new law, A.B. 1396, will affect your obligations? In a recent CER webinar, Joel M. Van Parys outlined some guidance for employers regarding A.B. 1396. What does it mean for you?
Employee documentation can be HR’s secret weapon. It can be used as part of a defense strategy should you ever be faced with a discrimination or retaliation lawsuit, for example. Any labor and employment attorney will tell you that one of the keys to being able to defend—or even prevent—litigation rests in sound HR documentation […]
When devising a strategy on how to retain employees, one of the first considerations is top talent management. A recent survey by Manpower’s Right Management group found that more than 50 percent of U.S. employers are already having a tough time filling mission critical positions. That’s an increase of 14 percent from 2010. This underscores […]
When an employee takes family or medical leave, unique compensation and benefits management issues come into play. HR and benefits professionals must know how compensation and benefits should be applied to employees who are out on family or medical leave.