Compliance

November 1, 2007

Meeting Madness

Most employees bemoan the hours spent in meetings. In a recent online survey by Microsoft, employees stated they waste nearly two days of every work week. 42% indicated procrastination was the leading cause of wasted time; followed by 34% who felt ineffective meetings were the culprit. Senior managers spend between 11 and 23 hours per week in meetings, while all other employees spend an average of 5.5 hours per week according to a Wall Street Journal survey. A simple way to measure the cost of meetings is to calculate the hourly rates of those in attendance, multiplied by the hours […]

May 1, 2007

Basic Training

Providing employees anti-discrimination or harassment prevention training makes sense. It not only protects the employer from liability and especially punitive damages; it clarifies behavioral expectations and establishes a respectful work environment. The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Kolstad v. American Dental Association (1999) ruled that employers may avoid punitive damages for harassment and discrimination if they can show that a good-faith effort was made to prevent both. The Court defined good-faith efforts … “where employers are encouraged to adopt antidiscrimination policies and educate their personnel on Title VII’s prohibitions.” California and Connecticut have very specific mandates for harassment prevention training. […]

April 1, 2007

Before You Terminate

Termination due to poor performance is potentially litigious. Even employers with established policies, effective performance appraisal systems, and apparent good cause for termination should follow proper procedures in making the decision and carrying out the discharge. Consider suspension first. Suspending the employee gives you time to look into the situation and consult with counsel or a third-party prior to making the decision to terminate. Thoroughly investigate the facts. Take time to review the details of the situation. Talk with the employee to establish his or her perspective. Obtain statements from witnesses. Review all related documentation. Outline the facts of the […]