Rethinking Drug Testing for Marijuana
I received a call from a client two weeks ago who was struggling with a tricky personnel issue on the topic of drug testing. Bob, who owns a company in Vermont and has a policy of mandatory drug testing for all new hires, wanted to hire a new shift manager for his small manufacturing plant. […]
Trump and the Workplace – What to Expect
Over the past six months, since the start of the Trump Administration, I have delivered perhaps a half-dozen presentations on what workplace regulations and changes employers can expect from the new President. My sessions always had to begin with a disclaimer – we really don’t know what to expect from the new Administration, so all […]
Tips for Conducting an Effective Job Interview
Much has been written about how ineffectual job interviews can be for employers who are looking to hire. Critics often point to the lack of forethought that goes into the questions, as well as too much focus on the candidate’s physical appearance and too much reliance on the interviewer’s “gut feeling” about a candidate. We […]
Introducing Generation Z!
I am bewildered by the multi-tasking capabilities of my two teenage sons. It is not uncommon for them to be watching television while simultaneously playing a video game on a laptop computer and streaming a YouTube video on their smartphone – all while their Spotify playlist emanates from the Sonos speakers. How do they do […]
A Message From Your Friendly, Pessimistic HR Expert
I really do hate to be the bearer of bad news. There is no “but…” to follow that. It is simply a statement of fact. In recent weeks, at conference presentations and in conversations with clients, I have found myself in the role of dampening the enthusiasm of business owners and executives when they begin […]
Your Employees Use Their Own Cellphones at Work. But You Still Need a Policy.
Over the past two decades, cellular telephones have morphed from being primarily luxury items and accessories for business executives to a must-have item for just about anyone who ever leaves their house. Many people, particularly those under 35 years of age, don’t even have landline phones. And today’s smartphones serve as much more than communications […]
Tips for New Employee Onboarding
So you’ve made a great hire and you are looking forward to onboarding your newest employee. Expectations are high and optimism abounds. But before you rely too heavily on those positive feelings, here are some sobering statistics to consider: · Up to 20 percent of turnover happens within the first 45 days of work. · […]
Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation: Protect Your Company, but Tread Carefully
While a cornerstone of employment law is employment-at-will, a doctrine which holds that the employment relationship itself is not a contract and therefore can be terminated at any time by either the employee or the employer, many companies add contract language to protect themselves both during and following an employee’s tenure. Confidentiality (or non-disclosure), non-compete […]
HR Resolutions for 2017
Employment-related lawsuits have been climbing steadily for years, as have government enforcement actions and penalties for violations. So, it is more important than ever to make a commitment to protect your business by ensuring compliance with regulations governing the workplace. Here below are some compliance hot spots for your 2017 priority list: 1. Job Descriptions: […]
Changes to the I-9 Form
The federal I-9 form, which verifies an employee’s identity and right to work in the United States, is one of the most important compliance requirements all employers have, regardless of their size. For the past 30 years, any newly-hired or rehired employee has been required to complete the I-9 process within the first three days […]
