Legal Issues

Email, texting and privacy issues

August 1, 2010
Thoughts about keeping smart phones and other electronic devices from becoming a liability at work.

Train interviewers to disregard apparent disability

June 2, 2010
Employers aren’t supposed to ask about disabilities unless applicants bring them up. That’s to protect disabled applicants from preconceived notions about disability. But ignoring disabilities serves another function: Interviewers can later testify that company policy requires them to consider only qualifications.

Limit employees’ use of social media

March 1, 2010
In an effort to promote your organization’s online presence, you encourage employees to use social media such as blogs and Facebook. Think again.

Assess your software vendors’ viability as economy lags

July 1, 2009
But as this recession lingers, you need to consider whether your software vendors will survive the downturn or be acquired by larger competitors. Also, weigh the risks of letting laid-off workers access PC files.

When a co-worker lies, you’re in a bind

May 1, 2009
You’re a loyal employee who works for an organization that you believe in. But not everyone shares your attitude.

Caution bosses against openly asking sensitive questions

April 7, 2009
Remind managers who feel the need to ask employees sensitive questions to do so only in a private setting. Doing otherwise could trigger a defamation lawsuit.

Make written policies come alive

April 1, 2009
Your written policies make sense to you. They seem reasonable and easy to follow. So why does your team ignore them?

Memo to managers: There’s no reason to discuss why employee was terminated

March 18, 2009
When it comes to discharging employees for alleged dishonesty, here’s some sound advice for managers and supervisors: Don’t discuss why the employee was terminated with anyone who doesn’t need to know. Keep the information private to avoid a possible defamation lawsuit.

Follow the law at work

January 1, 2009
Admit it: You view employment law as a pain in the neck. But according to attorney Christopher Vrountas, managers face many legal risks at work. Scoffing at those risks won’t make them go away; indeed, you can face liability if you’re not careful.

When religions collide, foster a spirit of tolerance

December 1, 2008
Religion rarely mixes well with work. Fortunately for managers, people with strongly held beliefs usually prefer not to argue with their colleagues about spiritual matters.