Managing employees also means managing risk. Unhappy employees may start legal actions; so may former employees. Issues can include discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, or complaints for back pay or overtime. Many business owners and managers do not have basic policies and procedures in place to protect their business in such cases. Implementing some simple personnel policies will greatly […]
Give me a break! Employee breaks and meal period requirements are confusing to employers and employees alike. I will attempt to make it clearer, or at least less confusing. The Fair Labor Standards Act, the federal law better known for regulating minimum wage and overtime, divides breaks into two categories, rest breaks and meal periods. Rest breaks The FLSA […]
Since the invention of the time clock, employers have obsessed over their employees’ time and attendance. Why are employees late to work or absent? Personal duties outside of work, primarily childcare. Transportation issues such as heavy traffic or mass transportation delays. Physical issues, such as illness or injury. Rules resisters. Written policies are meant for others. Internal clock issues, often […]
The two managers saw Sam walk past them and did a double double-take. “Look at that new tattoo on the side of his face. Can he do that here?” Can he? Even something as extreme as a facial tattoo may be allowable in the work place. There is no federal law regarding employee dress code. Employers may set any […]
An employee handbook is one of the most important documents your business needs. 1. The employee handbook establishes your company’s policies clearly and effectively. “What is the dress code? “What is the paid time off policy?” “What are the performance standards?” “My manager is harassing me. Who do I complain to, or should I […]
A typical employee handbook can have 90 or more policies. But what are the 12 policies that you MUST have? Start with a statement of what your company is all about Policy #1: This may seem surprising, as many assume that a handbook is focused on legal clauses. But the most important thing to communicate […]
Many companies are reviewing and revamping their efforts to promote a more diverse and inclusive work environment. Here are some action steps you can take now: 1 – Understand the issues. 2 – Communicate to the entire organization how you are going to address it – focusing on your company’s culture and values and how important […]
With “return to work” happening for many, issues will arise, and we should be prepared to address them when bringing employees back to the office. Many employees are concerned for their health and safety. Therefore, it would be a good practice to start gradually, by introducing small number of employees to the office. Consider staggered […]
Every business with employees should have an employee handbook. But what policies should you include? There are literally dozens to consider (I’ve used up to 95!). I favor a streamlined approach – only include what is necessary, in language all employees understand. Here is what I consider the essential policies for any handbook: How We […]