Short Takes: Investigations June 2008 What do we do when we've completed an internal investigation and the alleged wrongdoer just denies the allegation, leaving us with a "he said, she said" problem? . . . more
Hiring: Can We Refuse to Hire Smokers? May 2008 My boss wants to have a truly smoke-free workplace, and he doesn't want to hire people who smoke. Can we do that? . . . more
You're the Expert: How Can I Avoid Family Responsibility Discrimination Claims? May 2008 I'm hearing more and more about "family responsibility discrimination," and I'm worried that employees will start suing under this theory. How should I treat workers who are parents and caregivers so I can avoid accusations of discrimination? . . . more
You're the Expert: How Can I Stop the Tradition of Teasing and Pranks in Our Workplace? December 2007 A recent question: Our workplace has a tradition of teasing and pranks. "All in good fun," say the workers, but I think there are harassment suits building up in some employees' minds as this continues. How can I get the message across to stop this behavior? Here's what you had to say . . . more
Disabilities: How Do We Determine Whether an Employee Is a Safety Threat? November 2007 We have a large workforce, and many people operate machinery, fork trucks, etc. Plus, many handle hazardous substances. We now think that some employees have medical conditions that may cause them to lose concentration, and we have some other employees who may be . . . more
Discrimination: May We Require English-Only on the Job Because Co-Workers Are Uncomfortable? November 2007 What are an employer's restrictions on requiring employees to speak only English while on the clock? We do business in English, and some employees are insulted when there are private conversations in other languages going on around them. It's also a problem during breaks and lunch . . . more
Diversity: We'd Like to Improve the Diversity of Our Workforce—Can You Help? November 2007 We aren't subject to an affirmative action plan, but I'm concerned that our workforce isn't very diverse and that we may be losing good employees as a result. What are our legal obligations with diversity, and how can we address diversity at our company . . . more
About This Site
