Tag: procedures

Mandatory Furloughs—Attractive, But Legally Tricky

In these tough economic times, mandatory furloughs may be an attractive alternative for many employers. However, while furloughs don’t create many of the risks of termination, there are legal pitfalls to avoid. Law firm Littler Mendelson P.C.’s blog Insight offers advice for employers contemplating furloughs. Littler attorneys Alison S. Hightower, Eric C. Bellafronto, Barry Y. […]

RIFs: Beware the Hidden Costs

A reduction in force (RIF) often seems the obvious cure to financial challenges, but there can be surprisingly high costs associated with a RIF. You may want to consider alternatives. Consider these potential RIF costs: Lawsuits. This is an expensive aspect of any RIF, but there are steps to take to minimize the risk. Most […]

RIF Rules—The 6 WARN Exceptions

Reductions in Force (RIFs) under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act) are burdensome, but you might be in luck—there are six exceptions to the act, as spelled out by HR.BLR.com. First, there are three situations in which WARN rules may not apply at all: (1) The closing in question is of a […]

Name, Rank, Serial Number … and How Much Else?

Yesterday’s Advisor offered tips about giving references. Today’s we look at tips for handling other types of requests, such as subpoenas and financial data, again courtesy of BLR’s SmartPolicies program. Telephone Requests What should supervisors do if they receive a telephone call requesting information on an existing or former employee? Policies should address what the […]

‘Victory’ in Court Is Always a Little Bitter

In employment law cases, “Victory in court is always a little bitter when the costs of achieving it are factored in,” says attorney Russell Adler. He was referring in particular to the potential dangers of giving references. Adler, who practices labor and employment law at WolfBlock, made his remarks on workforce.com. His advice: “Stay out […]

Termination Lawsuit Risks Reduced? Check!

Terminations are breeding grounds for expensive lawsuits. Yesterday’s Advisor presented the first 7 of 10 questions you should ask before terminating employees. Today we’ll cover questions 8 through 10, plus look at a handy terminations checklist from HR.BLR.com®. 8. Do you have a well-documented business reason for the termination? Generally, if you can produce a […]

The 10 Questions You Must Ask Before Firing

Faced with a firing, managers are typically upset and uncomfortable. They want to just “get it over with.” Stop right there. Slow them down, and ask these 10 questions first. Otherwise, you’re likely headed for an expensive lawsuit. Here are the 10 questions BLR® experts recommend you ask before any termination. If your answer to […]

Effective Wellness Means Branding, Integration

Especially with online wellness programs, corporate branding and integration are essential, says wellness expert Barb Rouleau, APRN.  In today’s Advisor she shares her “top nine keys” to building great wellness programs. Rouleau is chief wellness officer at PureWellness, a leading provider of online wellness programs. She was joined by Ron Keen, the firm’s president, on […]

Corporate Wellness—Real World ROI of ‘4 Plus 5’

Wellness is well worth it, says Ron Keen, co-founder and President of PureWellness. That becomes easy to understand when you appreciate that lifestyle is the single largest factor in health, he says.  If your entity is typical, Keen says, probably about 20 percent of your employees have diseases or medical problems that are not preventable. […]

Monitoring the Use of Electronics? Privacy Alert!

Yesterday’s Advisor covered technology policies in general. Today we look at a narrower area—electronic monitoring—and provide an audit checklist to help you avoid expensive privacy lawsuits. Employers have many good reasons for monitoring employee activity, but they should always remember that there are legal issues involved, with privacy being the most prevalent. In general, says […]