Vacation Requests
Question: An employee has put in a request for a 4-week vacation even though our policy only allows 2 weeks off to be taken at a time. Do I need to approve it? Answer: When deciding to approve or deny a time off request you should look at your policy, past precedent, and the circumstances […]
PETS AT WORK
Question: Now that we are back in the office, my dog is having separation anxiety. Can I bring him to work with me if I keep him in my office? Answer: While a lot of people enjoy having a dog around, there are several things to think about before starting to bring your dog to work. […]
REMOTE EMPLOYEE UNAVAILABLE
Question: We have a remote employee who works their required number of hours each day but usually outside of our normal work hours. They are often unavailable for calls or meetings with management or co-workers and even clients have expressed frustration with their unavailability. While we believe employees should have some flexibility in when they […]
Religious Exemption to Vaccine
Q: Our company is requiring all employees to get vaccinated for COVID. We received a request for an exemption to the vaccination requirement on the basis of a sincerely-held religious belief. Can we require some form of documentation or verification? A: Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, employees cannot be required to get […]
Formal Driving Policy
Question: We do not have formal drivers in our company. Do I need a driving policy? Answer: Yes, we recommend even companies without formal driving positions have a Driving for the Company policy in their handbook. In fact, some business insurance carriers recommend or require it as well. Most companies have employees who may drive on […]
REOPENING THE OFFICE
Question: We are re-opening the office and have some employees who are vaccinated while others are not. Do we have to implement any different procedures or policies? Answer: Allowing fully vaccinated individuals to unmask and requiring those without a vaccine to continue masking adheres to the recent CDC (and in many instances state and local) […]
Performance Management During COVID
COVID-19 has made many aspects of employee management difficult. Now, one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are having to adapt to the extended repercussions of the COVID-19 workplace. One persistent challenge is effective performance management, including performance appraisals and disciplinary action. Performance management suffers from distance, reduced face-to-face interactions, changing job duties, and increased […]
COVID-19 Pandemic in the Workplace
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and businesses reopen under restrictions which vary by city, county, and state, Affinity HR Group continues to monitor several topics and issues to help our clients through these confusing times. Below are some of the current topics we are seeing. Employer COVID Liability: Employees being in the workplace increases their […]
