If OSHA comes knocking, it is not advised to refuse entry! Refusing entry only delays the inevitable and can create an adversarial atmosphere. An OSHA inspector can easily acquire a search warrant or subpoena if they choose to do so. Your first step should be to verify their credentials. Their official ID will include […]
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Most employers would be happy to deal with an accommodation request that was as simple as keeping a bottle of juice nearby. But one company refused to bend its rules about eating or drinking on the job, resulting in a costly legal battle and payout. No juice allowed Linda Atkins, a type II […]
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As Managers already know, disabled employees still need to be able to perform the essential functions of their job, with or without an accommodation. But what happens if an employee can’t come into work because of their condition, but can still get their work done? Is attendance in the workplace necessary then? In Hostettler […]
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At the risk of being accused of understatement, we would put forth that management team members do not always agree. Differences in perspective and opinion are what make collaborative decision making useful. But sometimes managers’ divergent opinions may be not only wrongheaded but also downright illegal. And when one team member bases his input […]
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Technology has transformed the way companies and their employees operate every day. While the benefits of a more connected world are numerous—we can do business with customers around the world, and they can communicate with us through 1 800 numbers —could we benefit from occasionally switching off from the digital world? Here, we explore the […]
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The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals (whose decisions apply to all New York employers) recently settled a split among the U.S. district courts under its jurisdiction and concluded once and for all that cumulative liquidated damages under the New York Labor Law (NYLL) and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are not […]
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Sure, no one’s boss is perfect. But some are so spectacularly bad they’ll make you happy to deal with your own flawed leader. Reader’s Digest had employees share the most ridiculous and strangest interactions they’ve had with their bosses. Here are the best ones: The Penny Pincher. In an effort to save some money (or […]
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The termination conversation: The most distasteful part of any manager’s job. Here are some guidelines on how to handle these confrontations in a humane, controlled and legally safe way. Before a confrontation can happen, HR’s often faced with getting managers past their normal aversion to making the final termination decision. A few of the […]
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As human beings, we hoped this day would never come. But as HR pros, we all thought it would. And now it has arrived: the day when hugging in the workplace dies. With a new ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, it appears we’ve reached the point in our history […]
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A recent article in the Des Moines Register reported on an employer who was sued for bullying or a hostile work environment related to President Donald Trump’s stance on immigration. The employee who sued is an American citizen of Hispanic ethnicity and was offended by the president’s comments regarding Mexican immigrants. She alleged that […]
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