Ethical behavior by all employees is critical to the long-term success of any company. Statistics show that employees who believe that their company operates in an ethical manner tend to be more productive and stay with the company longer. One of the first steps in ensuring that a company is run...

·        Use only UL-approved electrical decorations and extension cords.

·        Inspect all lights and cords before use.

·        Keep your tree and other decorations away from heat sources.

·...

The owners of a concrete company in California have been charged with 15 felony charges of payroll tax evasion and workers' compensation insurance fraud. The charges are based on allegations that the company intentionally under reported wages by disguising the funds as payments made to independent...

Many employers reimburse their employees for mileage driven in an employee’s personal vehicle for business purposes. For 2010, the business mileage reimbursement rate set by the Internal Revenue Service is 50 cents per mile. Starting Jan. 1, 2011, however, these rates for the use of a car, van,...

According to a BNA survey, there is a greater likelihood this year that employers will give employees holiday gifts and bonuses, sponsor end-of-year holiday parties and company-wide celebrations, and increase participation in charitable activities than last year. Employers with such plans, however,...

If it hasn’t already, snow will soon be falling in many parts of the country. Following are some safe snow removal tips employers can share with employees to help avoid injury, both on and off the job. 

·           Stretch for a couple of minutes before shoveling to loosen up back, shoulder, neck,...

There may be times when discipline or termination of an employee who has filed a worker’s compensation claim is warranted, just as it would be for any other employee. Employers facing this situation, however, must not underestimate the legal risks involved. In addition to rights under state law, a...

Employers with employees in multiple states must take care to comply with each state’s employment laws. For example, Illinois and Kentucky require employees to have 24 consecutive hours/one day of rest during a calendar week, but Indiana does not. Monetary penalties for each employee denied this day...

While holidays are fun and exciting, they can also create stress and anxiety. Not only can this create problems at home, it can negatively affect a worker’s ability to do his or her job well. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a company-sponsored program for employees that provides...

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects individuals with a physical or mental disability that affects a major life activity. This is true even if the condition is not visibly apparent or is in remission. This is evidenced by a recent federal court ruling in Indiana that an employee was...

Regular attendance at work is an essential function of most jobs. However, there are many legitimate reasons why employees cannot be at work every day. In order to help control absenteeism, employers should have a policy that addresses issues associated with attendance. These issues include...

Daylight-saving time in the United States ends at 2 a.m. November 7, when clocks should be turned back one hour. This time change may result in questions about overtime pay rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act.  Employers should observe federal rules for late-shift employees who are scheduled...

A recent survey indicates that many companies are increasingly concerned that top-performing employees will leave for better-paying jobs as the economy improves. Accordingly, more and more employers are realizing the critical importance of compensation-related retention strategies to keep these...

Many people think that back injuries are a result of a single event, such as lifting heavy or awkward objects. Many back injuries, however, result from relatively minor strains that occur over time. When back muscles or ligaments are injured from repetitive pulling and straining activities, the back...

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that companies develop workplace safety and health programs. Although OSHA does not require employers to have written safety and health programs, many states do. Creating an effective safety and health program can not only help...

In today’s economy, many organizations are focused on getting the best return on investment for their compensation dollars. While rewarding employees for longevity is common, employers can see greater value from concentrating limited funds on the best-performing employees. 

Management 2000, an...

Turnover can be expensive, and have a significant impact on a company’s profitability. Although many factors could be involved, poor hiring decisions often result in high turnover. Understandably, employers want to fill vacancies as quickly as they possibly can. Unless each candidate is properly...

Every company whose employees have E-mail access should have a policy on E-mail use. This policy should include the employer’s right to monitor E-mails. Additional tips employers should consider are including E-mail in document retention programs, limiting information in E-mails to facts rather than...

September 30 is the deadline for employers to file EEO-1 reports.  In general, employers with 100 or more employees, or those with 50 or more employees and at least $50,000.00 in government contracts must file this annual report. Proper record keeping throughout the year is essential in order...

Small business owners often find it difficult to keep up with the various laws and regulations governing employment practices.  Hiring, payment of wages, promotions, maintaining employee records and rest/meal breaks are but a few of the issues impacted by state and/or federal laws. Compliance is...