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 […]
If your company uses interns, then you need to think through your policies on how (or whether) you pay them. Failure to do so could expose you to a potential lawsuit. Let’s say that you bring in a college student as an unpaid marketing intern for the summer. She is eager to gain professional experience […]
I have never seen a company that is running at 100% effectiveness. Let me tell you why. A company, or any organization, is a complex integration of people and systems. Organizations start as dreams and plans, but are built in fits and starts, to address immediate problems and opportunities. Companies never look exactly as planned. […]
Complying with complex employment laws and policies is confusing and time consuming. Failure to do so can lead to lawsuits and other costly risks. Every company should conduct an annual compliance review of their handbook, general policies, procedures and documents. Any questions that come up can be resolved and policies updated accordingly. At Aspire, a […]
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 […]
Effective January 1, 2018, all companies with employees who work in New York State are covered under the Paid Family Leave (PFL) program. PFL is designed to provide a substantial new benefit for employees. At the same time, there are many legal compliance and administrative details to the new program. Here are the 7 […]
The Department of Labor regulations regarding millions of salaried employees who are currently “exempt” from the overtime pay rule of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are as follows: Criteria to Be Considered Exempt From Overtime To qualify for exemption from the FLSA’s overtime requirements, an employee must be paid a minimum salary level (in 2020, […]