Ask The Attorney
Answers by Nancy Delogu, Esq.,
Littler Mendelson
Get answers to your most pressing employment law questions.
Fast Track HR Audit
Answer a series of multiple-choice questions to gauge your level of employment-law compliance. Your answers will generate a list of free forms, policies and other resources to help you plug your compliance holes.
State HR Law Summaries
Make sure your company is in total compliance with all state HR laws. Our State HR Law Summaries brief you on key HR laws in all 50 states and alert you to legislative or regulatory changes.
Forms
Forms Access more than 70 customizable forms and sample policies in Word and PDF format—from applications to termination letters and everything in between.
Compensation & Benefits

IRS proposes rules to help retirees make their 401(k) funds last longer

5/17/2012
Even if they’ve been diligently socking away money in their 401(k) plans, employees who are about to retire are no doubt nervous about their financial futures. The nagging question: With retirees living longer, will their retirement savings last as long as they do? Believe it or not, the IRS wants to help.
Employment Law

How long must we give to review severance package?

5/17/2012
Q. How much time must our company allow an employee to review a severance package before accepting or rejecting the release agreement?
HR Management

Not just a matter of style: Factor safety, liability into dress code

5/16/2012
A recent HR Specialist poll found that casual attire is the norm in 88% of our ­readers’ workplaces. But a culture of dressing down doesn’t mean organizations don’t need a dress code. Although you don’t want to restrict your employees’ personal choices unnecessarily, you can set rules that promote a safe and efficient workplace.
Hiring

Recruiting edge: Video games firm ignores résumés

5/14/2012
Recruiters for video games company IGN Entertainment don’t care if would-be employees went to college or have experience with another firm. They’re looking for raw talent. The media company has kicked off a “no résumés allowed” recruitment program—the Code-Foo Challenge.
Employee Relations

Setting performance goals: Easy as A, B, C

5/8/2012
For each employee’s performance expectations, set A, B and C goals, suggests the SmartBlog on Leadershop. “C” goals are Comfortable; “B” goals are Believable; “A” goals are Awesome.
Terminations

Document every termination as if it will be challenged in court

4/25/2012
Here’s a good rule of thumb when disciplining employees: Consider it a given that if discipline leads to termination, the entire disciplinary decision-making process will be challenged in court. That’s why you must carefully document every disciplinary action, starting with warnings.
Article Archives

Not so fast! Court slams brakes on 'quickie' union elections

5 ways to ramp up employee training

Special analysis: What to do with electronic records

Is etiquette dead? Mind employees' manners

4 questions to ask about supplemental insurance

OSHA alert: Don't set policies that stifle injury reporting

Close skills gap with training, pay, planning

If employee's PTO is gone, can we dock his pay?

Plan ahead now for W-2 health care reporting

The top 10 harassment excuses ... and how to see through them

'Where do I find Elvis videos?' and other IT inquiries

Second state bans bias against the unemployed

TIGTA: Employers not taking the health care credit

No state law on break time: What does FLSA say?