If your organization pared back during the economic slide, you may be joining other employers that are rebuilding their staffing levels. More employers expect to pick...
You don't need to let an employee set a bad example by trying to force concessions from you that aren't required in a collective-bargaining agreement or employment...
After being burned a few times early in life by “rogues of dubious character,” Benjamin Franklin started finding himself more attracted to practical,...
Issue: Should you provide notice about commission-formula changes that could alter employees' pay? Risk: If you rework pay formulas behind employees' backs, you could...
Issue: Should you set a probation period for new employees? Risk: It can jeopardize your employment-at-will rights by implying that once the period ends, employees...
Standardized replies save you time but can cost you good will. Create templates and common paragraphs that you can pop into an e-mail or letter, then easily...
You never want your tax return to stick out like a sore thumb at the IRS. That's why it's good to know whether your deductions fall within the national averages.
Issue: Can you tell an employee to take a bath? Risk: You risk a discrimination claim because, unlike other grooming-policy issues, odor lies in the eye (or nose) of the...
Overly friendly staff members can pose a real dilemma for managers. How can you keep a professional distance and avoid the appearance of favoritism, yet still make sure...
As a manager, you need to let employees express their religious beliefs while, at the same time, making sure those expressions don’t infringe on the rights of...
Issue: Employees who miss work frequently often show predictable patterns. Benefit: Knowing which people are likely to avoid work can help cut costly absenteeism. ...
Issue: When can you refuse to rehire a former employee who may be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Benefit: You don't have to rehire people who...
Issue: Is pursuing a graduate degree worth the effort? If so, which one should you pursue? Benefits: An advanced degree can build your HR and business know-how, plus...
Thorough background checks can help you defeat any negligent hiring claim. But what if applicants' background checks come up clean, yet they begin displaying...
If you took out a home-equity loan last year and injected the resulting cash into your pass-through business (sole proprietorship, S corps, partnership or LLC), you can...
Q: In a recent item in your newsletter, you said that sole proprietors, partners and LLC members can use the per-diem method for reimbursing meals and incidental...
Issue: Poorly managed disability-management programs and rising costs can reduce your organization's profits. Benefit: By making disability programs more efficient, you...
