Posts by My Part-Time HR Manager
Employee Handbook vs. Policy and Procedure Manual: A Tale of Two Reads
So, you’ve already heard me rant about employee handbooks. You know, those monstrous collections of do’s, don’ts, and “please don’t steal the staplers” that seem to multiply in size each year like rabbits on a sugar high. But wait—there’s more! Just when you thought it was safe to put your reading glasses away, here comes…
Read MoreBurn The Employee Handbook And Start Over
When I first started in human resources, back when we were called personnel, my director tasked me with updating our twenty-five-page, 5 ½ x 8 ½ inch employee handbook. Fast forward to today, and I’ve seen these handbooks balloon to over seventy-five pages, 8 ½ x 11 inches. As part of my consulting practice, I’ve…
Read MoreThe Saga Over Independent Contractor Rules Continues
You may have heard that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) put out new rules about independent contractors. Former Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said these rules will help reverse recent efforts to “drastically curtail the recognition of independent contractors.” But you should think twice before making any changes to how you hire and/or manage independent…
Read MoreWhat’s Keeping CEO’s Up at Night!
COVID-19 has upended the nature of work. Employees are burnt out and disengaged after months of dealing with increased workloads, altered business strategies, and ambiguity. Parents are camped out at the kitchen table, trying to concentrate on work while their children are remote learning beside them. Essential workers are servicing their community while wearing masks…
Read MoreNYC Amends ESSTA to Better Align with NYS PSL
September 28, 2020, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio signed legislation amending the City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA) to align more closely to the New York State Paid Sick Leave law (NYPSL). The changes became effective on September 30, 2020. Important Note: The amendments to ESSTA require employers to note on…
Read MoreI can’t tell whether someone has COVID, the flu, a bad cold, etc. How should I respond?
As winter rolls around, many of our clients have started to think about the cold and flu season. Every year, I am sure, like many employers, you have an employee that comes into work with a cough, sneezing, feeling miserable, refusing to stay home because they do not want to use a PTO day. So,…
Read MoreNew York Employers – are you Aware of NYS’s Paid Voting Leave and Voting Rights Posting Requirements?
With the November 3, 2020, general election one month away, New York employers must remember that New York’s Election Law grants employees working in New York paid time off to vote and imposes specific, time-sensitive posting requirements. Less than a year after expanding its Election Law, New York State returns to its prior requirement that…
Read MoreAre You Ready For New York’s New Paid Sick Leave Law?
It’s Time, as Bruce Buffer would say! New York State’s general paid sick leave (“PSL”) mandate while it goes into effect on September 30, 2020, employers will not need to permit employees to use PSL until January 1, 2021. But, keep in mind that the regulations go beyond the statewide COVID-19 Emergency Leave Law obligation…
Read MoreMeetings – the Rodney Dangerfield of the Business World
We all attend those meetings, and we may even be guilty of orchestrating them! You know, the ones that are never-ending, lack focus, become a forum for one or two people, and conclude with no outcome or action plan for the attendees. No reason meetings get no respect! The good news is we can transform…
Read MoreLegal Considerations for Zoom and Teleconference Meetings
In yesterday’s MYPTHRM – HR Tip Of The Week blog, I wrote about five mistakes virtual meeting newbies and even pros make (here is the link just in case you missed – https://bit.ly/3jhHJvh). As a leader, you need to consider the security headaches that Zoom and similar teleworking tools bring to this enforced work-at-home environment.…
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