FMLA Abuse

Yes - it happens. Although the FMLA is in the best interests of employees, it can (like anything else) be abused by employees.

This article (courtesy Constangy, Brooks & Smith via Ceridian) shows how you can take steps to prevent abuse by employees who take FMLA intermittent leave.

Harassment - Same Sex

The EEOC reports that there's a sharp increase in men filing sexual harassment charges.

Harassment of the same sex is prohibited; make sure your handbook is updated (and your employees are aware of this policy as well)...

Preventing Violence in the Workplace

Not only should there be a policy in your handbook on violence in the workplace, you should reinforce with your employees that awareness and reporting is the best possible prevention of a violent act. An employee may think they're doing the right thing by not reporting potential behavior, but they're not.

Stupid Managers - Part 85

The tragedy of this story is that it's likely the business owner - the one who had to write a check for $85,000 (plus attorney's fees) didn't know one of his managers was acting so irresponsibly.
Yet the business owner is responsible for all of his/her manager's actions.
Get your managers trained, get a grievance procedure in writing.
Oh, and make sure not to promote people who don't have the faintest idea on how to manage people.

Stop Driving Your Boss Crazy

There are so many things that drive a manager crazy, it's hard to list them all. Author Anita Bruzzese has tried to do it; here's an interview with her.

HR Checklist

This is by no means a comprehensive audit checklist, but it's well written and focuses on the major issues California businesses needs to know.

I particularly like their focus on the single most important area you can do to improve our Human Resources and Employee Relations issues - communication.

Grievance Procedures

Every Employee Handbook should include a defined grievance procedure, which outlines the steps an employee must take when he/she has a problem, from potential violence in the workplace, to harassment, or even a common complaint.

The very first step should be to encourage the employee to talk to the person they feel is causing the problem. 90% of problems go away after this, without the necessity of management involvement.

The next steps should be hierarchical - if you're uncomfortable going to that person, or unhappy with the outcome, go to your supervisor, and so on.

Employee E-Mail Policy

The number of harassment cases involving the e-mails of employees is on the rise. Make sure you have an air-tight, written policy stating that use of company e-mail and internet access is strictly limited to business use only.

Workplace Discrimination on the Rise

It's official - and somewhat surprising:

Discrimination complaints to the EEOC are on the rise - especially race, sex and retaliation.

What's disheartening about this is that all of these complaints are preventable - through strong handbook policies, management training, and good investigation techniques.

It's the 21st Century - and it's time to manage properly!

Recommended Book Of The Month

What People Want, by Terry Bacon.

Simple, common-sense based principles for managing people. A really good read.

What Employees Want

We've been saying it for years - a good boss is not a buddy nor a dictator. He/she is somewhere in between.

Employees look for a professional relationship and value that so much in their manager that it's the primary reason why an employee will stay or leave a company.

Romantic Behavior in the Workplace

Happy Valentine's Day Eve!

Yet another article on the pitfalls of dating in the workplace - for both employers and employees. What really struck me is the finding that 84% of employees say their employer either doesn't have a policy regarding dating in the office (or that they don't know of such a policy).

Shop Your 401(k) Now!

The trend is finally happening - if you don't compare your 401(k) plan, not only are YOU losing money, but your employees are losing thousands of dollars through hidden fees.

And now is the time - if you don't have a defined contribution plan - to establish one for your business. High reward, a valued benefit, and low cost to your business.

Sexual Harassment Training

Non-harassment training for supervisors is mandated for businesses with 50 or more employees (and/or independent contractors) in California.

It's also strongly recommended for all businesses - in case of a claim, you as an employer need to be able to answer such questions as:

1. Where is your non-harassment policy in writing?
2. Where is your grievance procedure in writing?
3. When was the last time you trained your management in non-harassment training?
4. Did you properly manage the investigation?
5. Do you have a non-retaliation policy in writing?

It's for these reasons - and more - that a comprehensive review of your policies, procedures and training is necessary on an annual basis.

Document!

Any competent HR professional or consultant will tell management the first rule of good human resources practices is to document, document, document.

Yes, it's time consuming, but it provides the foundation for solid employee communication, as well as your back-up in case of lawsuit or grievance.

Make it business related, and never personal.

Employee Romance in the Workplace - Part Deux

An excellent article regarding what you can, and cannot do regarding employees dating in the workplace.

The key? Be proactive - it's much easier to put policies in place before something happens than afterwards.

Employee Expense Reimbursement

The concept of reimbursing employees for expenses incurred in the course of their job has always been somewhat vague in California.

Not only should there be a policy in your handbook on expense reimbursement, but it looks like the state is going to be setting some regulations for all businesses very soon.

Employee Romance in the Workplace

In California, you can't prohibit employees from dating (although you can prevent supervisors from dating subordinates).

The problem is, 50% of all sexual harassment cases come when the relationship was consensual. And, nearly half of all workers have been romantically tied to somebody from work!

Get a policy in your handbook that puts your procedures in writing. Have your attorney review it, and make sure that all parties in a relationship understand business - from your perspective - always comes first.

Managing Down The Middle

It's always wonderful when a survey supports the theories you wrote about years ago.

People will work harder and better for someone they WANT to work for, not who they HAVE to work for.

It's worth keeping in mind.

401(k) - The Hidden Fees

I don't manage 401(k) or retirement plans, but I'm a huge proponent of them for all businesses - it is a highly desired and inexpensive employee benefit.

I find that a number of small businesses are content to use a friend or acquaintance to manage the recordkeeping and money management of their 401(k)'s - and this is where it backfires.

You should immediately demand that your fund manager disclose all the fees - most of them borne by participants - in the plan. It should be Priority One as the new year gets underway.

It's great that government is finally doing something about it - but I fear the solution will be a long time away, and those fees add up every day.