When someone is fired and can't get hired elsewhere, a claim against the former employer is an attractive way to generate more than a little income. Here are five danger spots where managers need to exercise special care. 1 Give me a reference and I won't sue Don't give a bad-news departing staffer a good reference in exchange for an agreement not to sue. The nightmare … [Read more...] about Avoid these 5 deadly employment law traps
Risk management
Model Form: ABC Medical Office use of social media for pre-employment screening
Why you need this assessment: Information collected about individual job applicants is considered personal information subject to privacy laws, regardless of whether the information is publicly available online. You need to consider these privacy risks you face before using social media sites like Facebook to gather personal information about job applicants. How this … [Read more...] about Model Form: ABC Medical Office use of social media for pre-employment screening
The demise of sexual harassment: don’t bet on it
By Steve M. Cohen bio With issues such as bullying and workplace violence making the headlines, it might seem as if sexual harassment is no longer a major workplace issue. Don't bet on it. Sexual harassment continues to exist, and it's going to be a major workplace issue for as long as people are people. That's not to excuse insensitive or outright aggressive behavior, but … [Read more...] about The demise of sexual harassment: don’t bet on it
Human rights: the scoop on state and federal monitoring
By Steve M. Cohen bio Office managers can be excused for pulling their hair over government regulations, but here are some you shouldn't overlook. Every state has a human rights commission that is tasked with investigating charges made by employees against their employers in issues of fairness. The federal government has its own human rights commission that … [Read more...] about Human rights: the scoop on state and federal monitoring
Is firing employees for medical marijuana discrimination?
All seven of the courts that have confronted this issue in the past decade have ruled that employers can enforce zero tolerance drug policies to fire employees for lawful use of medical marijuana. Here’s the rundown: 2013: COLORADO (Federal Court) What Happened: Brewery employee with hepatitis C, fired after testing positive for marijuana, claims use was legal under … [Read more...] about Is firing employees for medical marijuana discrimination?
Model Tool: Notification to applicants of pre-employment screening
Why you need model tool: If your firm is going to ask for passwords and check social media accounts of job applicants, you need a formal notification to explain your intentions. How this model tool helps you: This is a prepared notification for job applicants. How to use this model tool: Fill in the blanks, make any other alterations and provide this notification to … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Notification to applicants of pre-employment screening
How to deliver bad news to 3 kinds of underperforming employees
The talk of management isn't easy. Here are three especially difficult conversations to be prepared for: the poor performance discussion, the no-raise-for-you discussion, and the we're-having-layoffs discussion. Business consultant, corporate trainer, and psychotherapist Linnda Durre, PhD, of Winter Park, FL, outlines what to say, and what not to say, to get the message … [Read more...] about How to deliver bad news to 3 kinds of underperforming employees
Model Policy: Medical marijuana
Why you need this policy: Now that medical marijuana is legal in many states, it’s important that you adjust your zero tolerance drug policy to address, if not accommodate, it. How this policy helps you: This model policy provides the appropriate language to use for your state. How to use this policy: Modify your existing workplace drug policy to include medical marijuana … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Medical marijuana
Start local managers group to make job easier
"It doesn't matter if there are three people or five or 20," says the manager of an internal specialty medical office in Tennessee. It's worth the effort to set up a local management group. She did that in her area years ago and still finds it useful. The setup was not difficult. It was just a matter of calling the other managers and saying, "Why don't we get together and … [Read more...] about Start local managers group to make job easier
Safety Briefing: Prevent needlestick injury and exposure to bloodborne pathogens
Why you need this safety briefing: Health care workers are at risk of exposure to deadly bloodborne pathogens through needlestick injuries and injuries from other sharps. How this safety briefing helps you: This is a safety talk that you can present to your medical office staff. This safety briefing is an introduction to the topics of needlestick injuries and bloodborne … [Read more...] about Safety Briefing: Prevent needlestick injury and exposure to bloodborne pathogens