Question: Do you recommend reducing hours as a disciplinary measure? Answer from Kyle, PHR: No, I don’t recommend reducing hours as a disciplinary measure. Discipline is most effective when it directly addresses the performance or behavioral issue the employee is having. The aim is to improve performance or correct behavior. Reducing hours, however, doesn’t accomplish […]
Category: HR Q&A
Q&A: Are there any questions we should avoid when interviewing job candidates?
Question: Are there any questions we should avoid when interviewing job candidates? Answer from Kara, JD, SPHR: Yes. You should avoid questions that cause an applicant to tell you about their inclusion in a protected class. Don’t ask about race, national origin, citizenship status, religious affiliation, disabilities, pregnancy, sexual orientation or gender identity, past illnesses […]
Q&A: Does an I-9 form need to be updated when an employee has a name change? What about other forms?
Question: Does an I-9 form need to be updated when an employee has a name change? What about other forms? Answer from Celine, SHRM-CP: When an employee changes their legal name, you are not required to update their I-9. However, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recommends maintaining correct information on I-9s. You […]
Q&A: Should we ban romantic relationships in the workplace?
Question: Should we ban romantic relationships in the workplace? Answer from Eric, SPHR, SHRM-SCP: Depending on the nature of the relationship, how you handle workplace romances is mostly up to your organization’s preference or policy. If the employees do not report to one another and are engaged in a mutually consenting relationship, no action may […]
Preventing Sexual Harassment in the workplace
Last year, nearly 27,000 charges of sexual harassment were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This number doesn’t include charges filed with state and local agencies or situations where employees went directly to an attorney, and many employees who are victims of sexual harassment or are affected by it never report the incidents […]
Q&A: Is serving alcohol at the holiday party a liability? If so, what can we do to protect ourselves?
Question: Is serving alcohol at the holiday party a liability? If so, what can we do to protect ourselves? Answer from Kyle, PHR: Yes, alcohol can be a liability. Partygoers who overindulge could cause an accident at or after the party, or they might act in ways that violate your harassment policy. There are steps […]
Q&A: How do I keep an employee at-will but require them to give notice before leaving?
Question: How do I keep an employee-at-will but require them to give notice before leaving? Answer from Monica, SPHR, SHRM-CP: Unfortunately, an employer may not simultaneously utilize the at-will employment provisions and require that an employee provide notice ahead of separation. Instead, I recommend requesting that employees provide notice as a professional courtesy so that […]
Q&A: We interviewed a candidate who … spoke with a thick accent. Is it okay to reject a candidate because their accent made it difficult to understand them?
Question: We interviewed a candidate who had the right type and length of experience but spoke with a thick accent. Is it okay to reject a candidate because their accent made it difficult to understand them? Answer from Kara, JD, SPHR: There is risk in rejecting the candidate based on their accent, as this may […]
Q&A: Do we need a company policy related to service animals in the workplace?
Question: Do we need a company policy related to service animals in the workplace? What if someone asks to bring one in? Answer from Emily, PHR: You do not need to have a specific policy on service animals for your employees. If a request comes up, I would recommend relying on your disability accommodation process […]
Q&A Several employees have complained that one of our managers is regularly… Could they be creating a hostile work environment?
Question: Several employees have complained that one of our managers is regularly abrasive and rude, yelling at employees and sometimes insulting them. Could they be creating a hostile work environment? Answer from Kyle, PHR: Possibly, but not necessarily. It sounds like this manager’s abrasive and rude manner has made employees feel uncomfortable and affected morale. […]