Employment Law

Taming the Difficult Employee

Difficult employees are a huge drain on an organization in terms of wasted time, reduced productivity, greater inefficiency, increased employee turnover and—in extreme cases—customer loss. Employees who work with difficult coworkers suffer from low morale, a declining commitment to their work, decreased job satisfaction and greater levels of stress and frustration. Read on to learn what motivates difficult employees, and how you can effectively manage them.

An Introduction to Human Resource Management

With employee loyalty at an all-time low, really savvy companies recognize that people have never been more important to business success than they are today. One very practical means of emphasizing and maintaining our people as a valued resource is to establish, as most organizations have, a function known as human resources management to represent the best interests of our employees and thereby of management as well.

11 Common Mistakes Employers Make

Let’s face it—as employers focusing in on business, we can too easily lose sight of the rocks and potholes that can come our way with our employees. We think things are moving along well and WHAM! someone shares his or her distress over something or someone in the organization. These types of issues arise from a vast array of reasons, many resulting from a lack of clarity or focus within various areas of human resources. Below are some mistakes employers make that only expand and exasperate the people-problems within an organization. Being aware of these bumps in the road may help you avoid them and keep your organization on the right track.

The Top 10 Things Employers Do to Get Sued

To adapt a quote from the well-known 18th century literary critic Samuel Johnson, the road to being sued by an employee is oft paved with good intentions. Whether it’s agreeing to an employee’s seemingly reasonable scheduling request, simplifying the payroll, or just saving a little money, an employer’s good intentions easily can lead to lawsuits.

Here’s a list of the top 10 things employers often do with the best intentions, along with the reasons employers are likely to get sued for doing them.

The Orientation Process…Clarity and Focus for the New Employee

Once an applicant accepts a job offer within your organization, the first few weeks working can be both a fearful and uncomfortable time for the new employee. One role of both administration and the manager is to take away that fear and bring new employees to a point where they can begin to trust and believe they are an important part of their new employer! How can this be achieved? Read on to find out how you can bring clarity and focus to your new employee.

Termination for Cause: Some Important Considerations

In today’s morally relative society, understanding the legal guidelines for terminating employees for cause has become increasingly confusing. As leaders, we are to treat all people the same as we would want to be treated, exuding dignity, respect, compassion and integrity. However, we are also to treat people differently when they are poor care-takers of their given responsibilities. On the job, this can include discipline up to, and including, termination.

Following a termination there is no way to guarantee that an ex-employee, even your best friend, won’t sue his or her employer. However, through a display of good character coupled with sound procedures, a leader can allow the employee to maintain his or her dignity throughout the discipline/termination process and, in turn, lower the possibility of litigation.

Summary of Legal and Illegal Interview Questions

This helpful chart indicates questions that are unlawful to ask at an employment interview. Many states have similar rules. Please call us if you have any questions or need additional information.

A Note About Employee Handbooks

Are you faced with several different samples of employee handbooks and now would like to know what to do with them? Writing your organization’s employee handbook for the employees working in your organization can be challenging, to say the least. Here are several thoughts to consider when writing and sharing with your employees a new employee handbook.

Employment Law Guide

This Guide issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) describes the statutes and regulations administered that affect businesses and workers. The Guide is designed mainly for those needing “hands-on” information to develop wage, benefit, safety and health, and nondiscrimination policies for businesses in general industry.

Overtime Pay Requirements of the FLSA

This fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Labor gives general information concerning the application of the overtime pay provisions of the FLSA.

Key to Avoiding Wrongful Termination Suits … No Surprises!

Want to avoid employee lawsuits for “wrongful termination?” Then, listen up, because the answer is easier than you may think: No surprises.

Seven Costly Legal Myths About Managing Independent Contractors

In an effort to trim labor expenses, many businesses have cut costs by replacing employees with independent contractors. Some savings are certain-employers don’t pay employment taxes to the IRS or benefits to these workers. But with independent contractors, the risks-and the hidden costs-may reduce or even wipe out the savings!
This article focuses on seven legal myths, and what you can do to protect your business.