Employers naturally want to provide employees with the tools that enable them to do their jobs more quickly and efficiently. But there are growing concerns in the business community about employees who use technology in ways that can harm their employers. During the work day and after hours, your staff members undoubtedly use cell phones and other [...]
Paid time off (PTO) policies aren't new. The basic concept is to allot employees a fixed number of days into a PTO "bank" for which they can be paid while not working, without designating the time off as sick leave, vacation or personal days. A 2016 survey by WorldatWork — a global association of human resource [...]
If your company has a lot of employees who don't have bank accounts or who work on the road or in remote locations, a payroll card system could save your business money in processing costs while making it easier for employees to access their wages. Direct deposits are less expensive, but are of little use to employees [...]
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule that revises civil penalties for many violations of federal labor laws, including certain violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Inflation-Adjusted Changes The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 directed federal agencies to adjust [...]
A source of irritation for employees can be the issue of pay -- or no pay -- for time spent attending meetings and training sessions. Tell employees they have to attend a meeting or training program, and the employees may raise questions like these: Is attendance mandatory, or can we skip it? If we show up, do [...]
Definitions of the Millennial generation vary, but basically these are people who, today, range from 20 to 36 years old. Their distinctive characteristics are attributed to two primary factors: Most were raised by highly attentive Baby Boomer parents, and Instant communication via electronic technology has been ubiquitous. As Millennials left home and went to college, far [...]
If your company still uses a manual time tracking system, you are probably losing time and money, as well as opportunities to streamline payroll and labor management. Time Tracking Devices The core of time tracking, whether it's a simple time clock or an elaborate time and attendance system, is the device that recognizes when an employee logs [...]
Although several federal laws address pregnancy discrimination, employers need to be aware that it's generally state and local rules that govern a company's policies and actions on this important matter. With so much attention paid to the rights of pregnant employees, it's easy for employers to assume that these workers have more protections than they actually [...]
Q. One of my employees is upset because I looked in his desk drawer. He's claiming I invaded his privacy. What exactly does this mean? What do I need to know about the privacy rights of my employees? A. Employees have the right to be protected from unreasonable intrusions into their private affairs. The questions [...]
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covered employers are obligated to make "reasonable" accommodations to help employees with disabilities perform their jobs. But if such employees can't perform "essential" job functions even with accommodations, employers have more options with respect to disabled employees, including termination. The definitions of "reasonable" and "essential" have always, to [...]
