10.02.06
Posted in Human Resources/Staffing, Uncategorized at 6:55 pm by Diana Heeb Bivona
With the time and money it takes to fire and rehire new employees, the idea of helping a less than motivated worker morph into an “acceptable” employee moves to being an almost worthwhile endeavor. However, it does require additional work on your part, and sometimes the best way to avoid having to deal with an employee exhibiting poor performance is to prevent it in the first place.
While you will probably feel frustrated by a poor performing employee, it’s important that you deal with the situation in an unbiased, fair and consistent manner as possible. Always investigate the underlying factors for the problem or behavior. Good managers constantly assess risk and identify and address potential failures early.
Ask yourself if you have:
- established clearly achievable and definable goals for your employee?
- kept the lines of communication open and set short term-milestones to monitor their progress?
- Scheduled regular reviews and encouraged employees to monitor their own performance and asked for feedback on their progress?
Finally, in some situations, poor performance may be a perceived rather than a real problem. Investigating the situation thoroughly and providing direction which may not have existed before, allows you to make informed and impartial decisions as to the future of that under-achieving employee.
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09.12.06
Posted in Human Resources/Staffing at 5:49 pm by Diana Heeb Bivona
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) impacts employers regardless of their size. You can have as few as five employees or as many as five hundred plus. It doesn’t matter what your size is, when it comes to making mistakes under the FLSA law, it can cost you big bucks. For example, if you assume all salaried employees are automatically exempt from overtime, you’d be wrong. Paying an employee a salary does not mean that they are exempt from overtime. Each individual employee must qualify for one of the specific exemptions provided by the statute.
Another common mistake is for employers to deduct for meal breaks. Sure, you can deduct for a 30-min or 60-min meal break, but can you prove each and every time that the employee took that meal break away from their desk and weren’t working through their lunch break? Are they punching the clock each and every time they take that lunch break? Hope you can prove it because the Department of Labor squarely puts the burden of your hourly employees’ actual hours worked on you, the employer.
Do you have a rule that employees must have overtime approved in advance or you won’t pay? The FLSA does not draw a distinction between approved and non-approved overtime. If the employee works the overtime, you are required to pay time and one-half the regular rate for that overtime. Of course, you do have recourse if your employee violates your policy which is either writing them up or terminating them, but you are still going to have to pay.
These are just two of the many common mistakes employers make in dealing with the FSLA. As stated, these types of mistakes can cost you. The FLSA penalty provision permits plaintiffs in some circumstances to recover twice their actual back wages, and because it automatically entitles winning plaintiffs to their attorneys’ fees, even a minor violation can quickly become very expensive.
For more information on the FLSA and to confirm if your company is in compliance, check out the U.S. Department of Labor website at http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/flsa/.
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09.08.06
Posted in Human Resources/Staffing at 3:41 pm by Diana Heeb Bivona
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions and constitutes unlawful sex discrimination under Title VII. Women affected by pregnancy or related conditions must be treated in the same manner as other applicants or employees with similar abilities or limitations. A recent court of appeals case dealing with this issue points out the importance of treating all employees equally under any company policy you might maintain.
Summary of case: The plaintiff had worked for the defendant as an over-the-road truck driver. The plaintiff claimed that the defendant unlawfully terminated her when she became pregnant because she could not perform the heavy duty lifting aspects of her job. The defendant claimed her termination was a result of a pregnancy-blind policy denying light-duty work to employees who could not perform heavy lifting and also were not injured on the job. The plaintiff claimed the defendant’s light-duty policy was just a pretext. Reeves v. Swift Transp. Co., Inc. (05/16/06 – No. 05-5271)
The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court ruling which stated the light-duty policy was not a pretext because it did not take account of pregnancy and the defendant-employer did not make exceptions for nonpregnant employees while enforcing the policy against pregnant employees.
The district court noted that “to hold otherwise [i.e., to hold for Reeves] would result in the Court affording pregnant women more benefits and better treatment than other employees, instead of equal benefits and the same treatment as intended by the” Act. “For instance,” the district court continued, “if the Court determined that Plaintiff was entitled to light-duty work . . . the effect would be to provide greater protection and benefits to pregnant women than to other employees who suffered from a non-work related injury or illness, such as a heart-attack or cancer.”
The moral of the story for employers: make sure your company policy treats all employees the same..no special treatment, but equal. Additionally, apply it equally in all circumstances. One of the major reasons this employer prevailed was because the only “light-duty work” they ever provided was for employees injured on the job and qualifying under workers’ compensation guideliness. If they had made an exception in any other circumstance, the employee would have had a better supported argument for discrimination.
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08.28.06
Posted in Human Resources/Staffing at 2:57 pm by Diana Heeb Bivona
Most of us, regardless if we are an employer or an employee, are familiar with the concept of employment at will. In a nutshell, it means an employer can hire, fire, promote, demote, transfer, discipline or otherwise alter the terms of a worker’s employment for a good reason, a bad reason or no reason at all (that’s the at will part of the equation). However, as with all things in life, the issue is not that cut and dry. There are significant shades of grey that need to be considered when utilizing employment at will.
For example, if the employer and employee somehow reached an agreement that employment was not at will. What’s that mean? You formed either some type of expressed (written contract) or implied (verbal promise) agreement either knowingly or through misunderstanding. It’s important to keep in mind that your employee handbook speaks for you when you are not there. Therefore, it is imperative that if you plan not to limit your employees’ employment-at-will status that your employee handbooks and manuals aren’t drafted in such a manner as to run counter to what you intend. Review applicable state law for more information on compliance.
The other way in which employment at will is no longer applicable is as it applies to illegal termination procedures, such as firing someone based on discrimination or revenge. While you may feel confident that you are not discriminating, take a moment to review traits courts in one or more jurisdictions have ruled are protected:
Age, Race, Color, Religion, National origin, Veteran status, Union activity, Disability, Pension rights, Polygraph, Plant closing, Family and medical leave, Public policy, retaliation, sexual orientation, marital status, height, Weight, Political affiliation, Genetic trait or test, Tobacco use, Recreational activity, and Lawful consumable product.
How a business will respond to situations where their employment at will or other policies are challenged will vary. They are largely dependent upon each company’s individual circumstances. However, regardless if you have one employee or five hundred employees, one important “to do” item should be high on your list. Be sure that you have a policy in place as to how you will handle employee issues and remain consistent and methodical in its application. Furthermore, it’s in your best interest to treat every employee with dignity, respect and fairness. You’d be surprised at how far those basic principles will take you in your current and future employer/employee relations.
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08.15.06
Posted in Human Resources/Staffing at 1:59 pm by Diana Heeb Bivona
A Harvard study, “Sweat the Small Stuff,” found that ordinary people are capable of producing creative work. Furthermore, researcher Teresa M. Amabile found that creativity had more to do with the daily events of one’s life than productivity demands. For example, someone in a good mood was likely to have more creative ideas.
Managers can also have a positive influence on an employee’s mood which can then encourage productivity and creativity. They can:
■ Support people emotionally.
■ Monitor behavior in a positive way, such as giving positive feedback and provide information needed to do better work.
■ Recognize good performance, particularly in a public setting.
■ Consult with team members.
■ Help in a collaborative way.
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08.14.06
Posted in Human Resources/Staffing at 6:07 pm by Diana Heeb Bivona
In 2005, the Equal Employment Opportunities commission (EEOC) reported 46 complaints by employees regarding ADA violations. That same year, the EEOC also reported that $2.0M in benefits based on direct suits and interventions were paid out to employees. In the grand scheme of things, this may not seem like a large number to you, but if you are a small business owner hit with a lawsuit, it can mean the difference between your ability to continue operating or having to sell your business.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires an employer with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, unless it would cause undue hardship. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission defines a reasonable accommodation as any change in the work environment or in the way a job is performed that enables a person with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities. There are three categories of “reasonable accommodations”:
- Changes to the hiring application process
- Changes to the work environment (or way a job is usually done)
- Changes that enable employees with a disabilities to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment (i.e. access to job training)
Workplace barriers may be physical obstacles (such as inaccessible facilities or equipment), or procedures or rules (such as rules concerning when work is performed, when breaks are taken, or how job tasks are performed). Reasonable accommodation removes workplace barriers for individuals with disabilities.
A free guide from the EEOC called Enforcement Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the ADA can assist small business owners with ensuring that they are in compliance with the ADA. Its a great resource to have on hand.
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08.10.06
Posted in Human Resources/Staffing at 11:04 pm by Diana Heeb Bivona
Interviewing prospective employees is always difficult. Given today’s legal “do’s” and “don’ts”, the interview process can feel restrictive and frustrating. By understanding which questions you can and cannot ask, you can better control the interview and receive the information you need to make an informed hiring decision.
Examples of what you cannot ask:
· How old are you?
· Where were you born?
· Have you ever been arrested?
· What are the dates you attended and/or graduated college?
· What type of child care arrangements do you have in place?
· Do you own or rent?
Examples of what you can ask:
· Are you over/under the age of 18?
· Have you ever been convicted of any crime?
· Describe the scope of your academic and/or professional education.
· Are there any activities, responsibilities or commitments that may limit your ability to meet our work attendance requirement?
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08.09.06
Posted in Human Resources/Staffing at 5:58 pm by Diana Heeb Bivona
Dwight Eisenhower once said, “The best morale exists when you never hear the word mentioned. When you hear a lot of talk about it, it’s usually lousy.” That definitely rings true.
If you are a manager, or business owner, and you are hearing stories about morale being low, then you know its time to take swift action to correct the problem. With morale directly related to productivity, can you really afford to let the problem go unaddressed?
Here are a few tips for dealing with low morale:
- Treat your employees as trustworthy, dedicated, well-intentioned and capable employees. In short, as equals.
- Be honest – regardless of how negative or positive the message. Honesty and trust are always highly valued.
- Celebrate success – even celebrating the seemingly small accomplishments lets employees see meaning in what they do each day and acknowledge their accomplishments.
- Recognize your employees publicly – if you have employees doing a great job, don’t let it go unnoticed. Be supportive and let others know how much you appreciate their efforts.
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08.04.06
Posted in Human Resources/Staffing at 2:51 pm by Diana Heeb Bivona
There are pros and cons to giving feedback. Obviously, how effective it is and how well received it will be depends not only on the receiver, but on how you deliver it. To manage the feedback process in order to get the most out of it, follow these suggestions:
Choose an appropriate setting – make sure that the setting is free of distractions and interruptions. This includes turning off the cell phone and having your assistant take a message.
Set the stage – this means being prepared. Copying any relevant documents you need and setting aside adequate time to discuss. It also refers to confirming that the other party is ready and open to receiving the feedback. If you think they are going to be defensive and not open to receiving the feedback, address the problem head on. Let them know you feel they are uneasy and find out if there is anything you can do to make them more comfortable with the process. Ensure them that whatever is said will remain confidential.
Remain positive – Start with a positive piece of feedback to show that you’ve noticed and valued that particular behavior. The feedback should be descriptive rather than evaluative. Focus only on behavior that can be changed rather than on the individual’s personality.
Walk the Walk – if you expect a certain type of behavior, be prepared to practice that behavior as well. Additionally, if you make promises in the meeting such as additional training, greater involvement or more resources, follow through and deliver.
Ask for Feedback – even if the meeting went badly, ask for feedback on how you handled the meeting. Use the meeting as an opportunity to build bridges and show your willingness to personally improve.
Thought of the Day
“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” Winston Churchill
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07.31.06
Posted in Human Resources/Staffing at 10:32 pm by Diana Heeb Bivona
As diverse as our employees are, so are their religious beliefs. While many may argue that strongly held religious beliefs should not impact the workplace, they do. In fact, in some cases, they also require reasonable accommodation.The most obvious forms of reasonable accommodation include providing an employee time-off to observe a religious holiday or event. In many cases, vacation and flex time cover these occurrences. However, a recent court ruling suggests that employers also have a responsibility to reasonably accommodate one’s religious beliefs — even if they may conflict with the company’s.
A nurse at a hospital was up for a promotion and was asked if she was willing to dispense emergency contraception, i.e., the “morning-after pill.” Her response was that she was opposed to emergency contraception because she believed it was a form of abortion, and it violated her religious beliefs. The hospital passed her up for the promotion and went with another employee who did not object to dispensing the contraception. The nurse sued and won on this claim. Nead v. Bd. of Trustees of E. Ill. Univ., CD Ill., No. 05-2137 (6/6/06).
The impact on employers: When possible, an employer is required to provide reasonable accommodation for an employees’ sincerely held religious beliefs.
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