HR Basics HR Management email employee handbook HR communications HR management HR policies talent management It starts out innocently enough. One of your employees receives an email from a co-worker with a hilarious description of a difficult client. Amused, they forward the email along to the other members of their team. Quiet laughter fills your office as the email spreads like wildfire. MORE

Policy changes can be emotional events as evidenced by today’s reader note. I was a telecommuter for 10 years. The new company did not have a telecommuting policy but agreed to keep telecommuters providing they live far enough away. Can employers make unwritten policies like, if you live near the office, you can no longer telecommute? Is a policy required? Absolutely. MORE

Creating your first relocation policy can feel like being dropped in the middle of a desert with a bag of random tools and no map. You may have a bucket of anecdotes about relocations and some vague idea of what should go into a policy, but making use of those tools and navigating your way out of the sand is whole other thing. Technology Relocation Policy HR MORE

Developing a vacation policy for a company is not as easy as some may think. What most employees and new hires don’t realize is just how much thought and time goes in to creating the ultimate vacation policy in order to provide them with a great accrual policy. Below are 4 useful questions to consider when creating your PTO Policy. Category 2. Bereavement. Vacation. MORE

In an effort to reduce absenteeism and loss of productivity within the workplace , US businesses are reforming their vacation and PTO policies to better support their employees needs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, American employees are working 160 hours more each year than they were 30 years ago. This equa tes to one full month of additional work. Types of Time off Accruals. MORE

Drug Testing Employee Handbook & Policies Legal - Compliance & Policies Featured legal issuesOver the past 10 years, there have been changes to laws governing medicinal and recreational   marijuana use across the United States. Twenty-five states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana in some form. Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Washington D.C. MORE

Like ghost and goblins, phantom policies may be creeping about in your organization [que evil laugh] Bwahahaha! Phantom policies are undocumented and not widely known rules or expectations. I don’t mean to frighten anyone. There may be phantoms lurking about your halls. Picture this scene. You are humming along performing and doing what you think is […]. MORE

In the past few decades alone, we’ve experienced closed-door office buildings, open-door policies, open-office concepts, and remote work arrangements. The impetus behind instituting an open-office approach or open-door policy is to facilitate conversation, share ideas, and increase collaboration. With the invention of virtual collaboration tools, the open-office concept and open-door policy have entered into the digital age. The workplace and workforce are perpetually in flux. The benefits of openness. But for many companies, these are alien concepts. MORE

HIPAA guidelines show no issue with getting this information because it was requested. I did break a policy (that I was unaware of), and the company did not wish to discuss the matter further. I had been an employee of the company for nearly three years with no other issues. To read the answer, click here: Dilemma of the Month: Fired for Breaking Company Policy. The post Fired For Violating a Company Policy appeared first on Evil HR Lady I was recently let go from a job due to accessing information on our system that I had been taught was allowed. MORE

Are your work-from-home policies keeping pace? With the right online tools and management strategies in place, remote work policies can even increase your team’s productivity and save your company money. If a tree falls in a forest, does it make a sound? If work is done away from the office, does it still count? By 2016, Forrester expects 43% of Americans will work remotely. MORE

The following week, the plaintiff and defendant met to discuss her return to work, at which time the plaintiff was told that she could not return until she had “no restrictions” and was “100 percent” in accordance with “corporate policy.”. ( Oh boy…). What the court is saying here is that not only is a 100%-healed policy antithetical to the interactive process, it may be an automatic violation of the ADA. Someone didn’t read my post back in May. cue music ]. ” ( Is it getting warm in here? ). Then, the defendant put the plaintiff on a medical leave. You got that? MORE

Internship season.ah, one of the great perils of HR and Recruiting Departments both domestically and internationally. Truthfully, our internship process is probably something that keeps many of us up at night. While they're very beneficial to companies and are extremely important to growing students looking to gain experience in their field, internship programs take a lot of work. MORE

HR Insights HR Management Best practices Change management HR basics HR communications HR management HR policies Management talent management work rules My husband calls them “ blond moments ” when he shows me a cartoon and I don’t get it. I’m also a bit gullible when I read spoofs and satires. No, thank you – I don’t need oceanfront property in Arizona. Oh my, I hope not. more…). MORE

This goes beyond understanding payroll timelines, benefits and company policy information; the Onboarding Champion needs to personally know other individuals or teams that help make the company run smoothly. Do you remember what your last onboarding experience was like? Maybe you were thrown head-first into your role after simply being handed an employee handbook or perhaps you took a series of training classes to learn about your position and the new company. Chances are, if you’ve changed jobs at least once in your life, you’ve experienced different types of onboarding. Buddy. MORE

And, the easiest and most effective way you can do that is by having an up- to-date (and regularly updated) company-wide social media policy in place. Social Media Policy Particulars. Here are a few areas you must be considerate of when you are checking over and updating your social media policy, so as not to run afoul of the FTC. Social media has been around for a while now. MORE

Policy manuals have been a topic of contention for years. The truth is that as human resources, we love NOT to be the HR police.  We’d love nothing more than not needing a policy manual. So, the next time you’re unhappy with a policy, try to think past the standard idea that HR created it. Collaboration in policy making can actually lead to happier employees. MORE

As voting day quickly approaches, it is imperative HR professionals are up-to-date on the policies of both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump—and the impact those policies will have on the workplace. Below are some of the federal policy areas subject to change with a new president: Compensation Compliance Diversity HR TrainingThe 2016 election season is coming to an end. MORE

Over the last decade, the millennial shift has manifested in workplace policies such as open office floor plans, flexible work hours, relaxed work attire, and company cultures that align more closely with millennials’ desire to find meaning in their day jobs. Millennials. For instance, millennials don’t necessarily need their hands held during projects; what they want is feedback. MORE

I’ve been in human resources for twenty years. I’ve written, revised, edited, printed, emailed, posted and leveraged policies to make decisions over and over again. Too many times following the policies morphed into the focus of the work…instead of the work being the focus of the work. We Need A Policy for “That” My favorite policy of all time is the “ policy on policies.” MORE

The post Finding your ideal vacation policy appeared first on Replicon. In 2014, a New York City councilman proposed a bill requiring three weeks paid leave for employees who had worked at a company for five years. That, plus the mandated five-day sick leave, would have amounted to four weeks of paid time off. MORE

These days, there is no such thing as a standard vacation policy. The concept of a vacation policy has evolved from a set number of days a year to unlimited days year-round. Here are some suggestions on how to develop your own vacation policy: Make it rewarding  . Designing your policy to reward your employees and increase retention could pay off in the long-run. MORE

Policies are a course or principle of action adopted by a business or individual. In human resources, we’re often accused of having too many policies. But policies are what keep everyone on the same page so, the answer isn’t for HR to have fewer policies. The real goal is to have effective policies. Insider policy human resourcesWell, maybe it is. MORE

Follow these steps to create an effective employee grievance policy that you and your employees will appreciate. 1. Document the grievance policy and add it to your employee handbook. Including your grievance policy in the employee handbook is important so employees know what to do when they encounter an issue. Share your new grievance policy with your employees. MORE

Even if you have an “at will” employment policy, give the employee a reason for terminating their employment. You have what you believe to be a top-notch employer brand and an awesome open position that job seekers will surely flock to. Unfortunately, your employer branding efforts and creative job posts aren’t having the effect you thought (and hoped) they would. Click To Tweet. MORE

Behavior Employee Handbook & Policies HR Communications HR Insights HR Management HR Trends Legal, Compliance & Policies Social Media Policies Workforce Best of TLNT FeaturedEditor’s Note :  It’s a TLNT holiday tradition to count down the most popular posts of the year.  This is No. 4 of 2015. Our Our regular content will return next Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. . MORE

The following week, the plaintiff and defendant met to discuss her return to work, at which time the plaintiff was told that she could not return until she had “no restrictions” and was “100 percent” in accordance with “corporate policy.”. ( Oh boy…). What the court is saying here is that not only is a 100%-healed policy antithetical to the interactive process, it may be an automatic violation of the ADA. Someone didn’t read my post back in May. cue music ]. ” ( Is it getting warm in here? ). Then, the defendant put the plaintiff on a medical leave. You got that? MORE

It’s widely acknowledged that more diverse workforces are better workforces , and most successful organizations have explicit diversity policies in place. The downfall of many a diversity initiative is the assumption that because a policy is in place, it must be working. Efforts to i ncrease diversity in the workplace are nothing new. So where does the disconnect come from? MORE

And, the easiest and most effective way you can do that is by having an up-to-date (and regularly updated), company-wide social media policy in place. Social media policy particulars. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has been  weighing in on social media policies  for a few years now, with mixed “reviews,” for lack of a better term. I am not a labor lawyer, so I advise everyone to do some Google searches, and read about the NLRB’s stance when it comes to individual corporate social media policies. Social media policies: some quick considerations. MORE

understood how policies and procedures were interpreted and followed by the general workforce, and this gave me a leg up. From day one, I was able to predict more accurately how well received a new or modified policy would be and adjust expectations accordingly. Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other gold. should know. It was in quality assurance. MORE

It’s time to double-check that your FMLA policy and notices aren’t missing this critical, but apparently easy to overlook, piece of info. . The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDC) didn’t, and the legal pickle it’s in can teach a lot of employers what happens when this piece of vital info is missing from your written FMLA policy and/or other documentation. MORE

So I thought I would … Continue reading → Just for Fun Christmas Party HR Guidance Christmas Party PolicyIt is nearly that time of year again. When we in HR have to start worrying about whether our employees will be able to behave themselves, once the Christmas spirit takes hold (or is consumed). MORE

Workplace policies are supposed to serve the needs of the business – which includes attracting and retaining great employees. And yet some truly terrible policies have stuck around for decades, despite fairly sweeping changes in work culture. These policies are often rooted in outdated work norms and a lack of trust from managers toward employees – which is one reason why good companies and good employees don’t want anything to do with them. At U.S. You can read it here. You may also like: should your company switch to unlimited vacation time? outside workplace practices MORE

The DOL’s latest FMLA move has made reviewing your leave policy a must — or you could face penalties. . It is to make sure your leave policy includes all of the same info that’s on the General Notice. In other words, it’s time to audit your FMLA leave policy to make sure it contains all of the same info as the new General FMLA Notice. The guide’s called “ The Employer’s Guide to The Family and Medical Leave Act ,” and the poster and policy mandates are spelled out on Page 12 and 13. The policy requirements. MORE

Our HR Specialist, Amy Puerta, shares her insights on how progressive workplace policies have a ripple effect on engagement and retention MORE

It will also make business decisions and policies much easier. By applying this transparency to company policies and perks, we’ve seen these benefits. With that in mind, here are four ways you can integrate transparency into your company policies, traditions, and office perks. Create an Expenses Policy. As you draft your policy, make sure to cover: Travel expenses. MORE

Have your HR policies caught up? Dumb HR policies typically come about when managers and HR people don’t know how to productively lead and manage their workforce and resort to a far-reaching policy when a bit of guidance or coaching could easily fix a problem. The economy has rebounded and recruiters agree that it’s now a candidate’s job market. MORE

Internship Policy HR RecruitingEven if you’re at one of the hottest, best-reviewed companies, it can be a tough task to find candidates willing to relocate for a position. The prospect of uprooting is intimidating, and can be incredibly financially disruptive. And sometimes, even the most robust relocation benefit isn’t enough to convince someone. Or, you may be having trouble finding new, young talent to develop within your organization due to a dearth of local interns. Focusing on your relocation program as a tool to address both of these issues is a surefire way to get results. MORE

While you want to encourage a friendly, comfortable atmosphere, an employee dating policy can help your company avoid these uncomfortable situations by making it clear what is and is not allowed. The basics of an employee dating policy. Can a policy protect your company from charges of sexual harassment or favoritism, conflict or morale problems? Period. that must be addressed. MORE

Employer policies and agreements have recently come under fire. From governmental agency guidance and enforcement lawsuits, to state and local laws mandating employer action, employers now more than ever need to be smart in drafting and implementing policies and agreements. What does this mean for an employers’ policies? By Brooke T. Iley and Stephanie Gantman Kaplan. MORE

Institute an Unlimited Vacation Policy. Companies  like HubSpot and General Electric have instituted an unlimited vacation policy and seen a number of benefits. Introducing an unlimited vacation policy does a number of things: it encourages employees to take time off, helps employees create a better work/life balance, and attracts top performers. Why so many? This is bad. MORE