Legal Issues

Do we need a workplace dating policy to address a recent problem?

June 18, 2018

Q: “We don’t currently have a workplace romance/dating policy, but are seeing the need for one since we are now aware of a relationship between a supervisor and employee. Can we adopt a policy now and enforce it immediately (such as transfers or separation of the two employees)?” – Amianne, Maryland

We made worker stay late to clean mess: Do we need to pay him overtime?

May 16, 2018

Q. One of our workers made a mess near the end of his shift. We told him he needed to clean it up before he left. Do we need to pay him overtime?

Broke quitting-time rules? No unemployment for you!

March 20, 2018

Be sure employees know your rules for leaving work early. That way, an employee who violates the rules will have committed willful misconduct, disqualifying him from receiving unemployment compensation benefits.

Keep It Legal: April ’18

March 9, 2018

Log customer complaints to back up discipline.

Lessons from the Courts: March ’18

February 23, 2018

How not to avoid paying overtime.

Keep It Legal: March ’18

February 9, 2018

Worker advises others to complain about harassment? Don’t punish him. … Watch your words

Lessons from the Courts: February ’18

January 25, 2018

Managers should never retaliate against an employee who sticks up for an alleged harassment victim or makes overtures to help that person’s case. Such behavior will quickly turn into a costly retaliation lawsuit.

Ounce of prevention: Keeping sexual harassment out of the workplace

January 21, 2018

The national conversation on sexual harassment must include strategies for creating workplaces in which such actions never occur. Consider these ideas experts support as to how managers can build better environments.

Employee returns from FMLA leave: Is there anything I shouldn’t say?

November 10, 2017

Q. One of our employees is out on FMLA leave recuperating from an injury. He’ll be returning to work soon, and I don’t want anyone to say anything to him that could stir up legal trouble. Any advice?

Keep It Legal: December ’17