Legal Issues

Hiring tests must reflect true work conditions

March 1, 2008

Women accounted for half of new hires at an Iowa meatpacker until the company instituted a new pre-hire lifting test. Then the percentage of women fell to 15%.

When a temp fails a drug test, what next?

March 1, 2008

The ever-present threat of litigation can turn seemingly simple situations into harrowing ethical dilemmas.

Anti-bias bond?

December 1, 2007

There is a debate about the idea of anti-bias bonds. Employees buy the bonds upon hire, earn interest on the money during employment, but forfeit the proceeds if they ever sue the company.

Immigration and employer sanctions

December 1, 2007

This fall has seen important developments, from the perspective of employers, in the public debate over illegal immigration.

Handling a substance-abuse problem

November 1, 2007

While surveys show that drug and alcohol abuse are less common in today’s workplaces than in recent years, managers still are likely to encounter employees with substance-abuse problems.

Religion policies in practice

November 1, 2007

Reflect on two important legal issues: How do you deal with religious freedom at work? What does “equal pay” mean?

Need to know: Avoid promising 100% secrecy

October 1, 2007

HR often has vague policies for when they’ll share an employee’s confidential information. Fact: You can’t always promise an employee that her conversation with HR will be confidential.

“No-match” Letters

October 1, 2007

With all the public debate over illegal immigration, federal officials have promised stricter enforcement against employers who knowingly hire illegal workers.

Leave for domestic violence; no required lunch break

September 1, 2007

New legislation may guarantee up to 30 days of unpaid leave for victims of domestic violence … Can an employer require people to work through lunch?

Drugs at work; rating leaders; new wage posters