Essential HR Policies: Employee Dress and Appearance
This week we continue our series on Essential HR Policies. Places of business that have a particular standard of appearance (or a dress code) for employees should have these standards in writing. This can be a sensitive area that often invites claims of discrimination—especially if some employees are allowed to bend the rules. It’s crucial that […]
Essential HR Policies: Employment Classifications
Employment classifications…probably not the most exciting section of your employee handbook. But how you classify the people who work for your small business or nonprofit impacts everything from tax withholdings to access to benefits and even which employment laws apply to which workers. Whether you are new to putting together employment policies, or it’s time […]
Essential HR Policies: Creating a Disciplinary Policy for Your Small Business
Hiring employees is often an exciting time for small businesses and nonprofits. But not every new hire will turn out to be a great fit for your organization. Perhaps an employee’s performance simply isn’t up to par. Or an employee commits a major violation of some company policy. Or maybe an employee keeps repeating the […]
Why Your Business Website Must Have a Privacy Policy
If your business has a web presence (and in the 21st century, you really should), then you probably need a privacy policy on your website. Several relatively recent laws require business websites to post a privacy policy, but these laws aren’t universal in their applicability, especially when it comes to small businesses. Complicating matters, this area of the law is developing and changing rapidly.
Essential HR Policies: Email, Internet and Social Media
Most of us now have access to the internet 24/7 no matter where we go or what we should really be doing with that time. And that includes your employees. You want employees to spread the word on social media about your great products or services, but you don’t want an employee to say the […]
Essential HR Policies: Time Off and Paid Leave
This week we continue our series on Essential HR Policies with a look at time off and paid leave. As a small business or non-profit, you might be worried that giving your employees paid time off is simply too expensive. On the other hand, you fear that you won’t be able to compete for the best talent […]
Essential HR Policies: What’s in your employment files?
Common Record-Keeping MistakesMost of our clients run their business or non-profit because they are pursuing a passion, not because they enjoy record-keeping. But failing to keep thorough and accurate payroll records makes it impossible for you to complete timely and accurate tax filings (including issuing W-9s or 1099s at the beginning of the year) which […]
Essential HR Policies: Drug-Free Workplace
When it comes to running a functional and productive workplace, drugs and alcohol can cause any number of problems: lost productivity, excessive time off, workplace accidents, employees behaving badly while under the influence, etc. As we keep reiterating in this series, as an employer, you can be held vicariously liable for everything that your employees do […]
Essential HR Policies: Anti-Harassment and Non-Discrimination
There are a wide range of laws that cover how you as an employer treat your employees at every step in the employment process: from hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits. And as an employer, you can be held vicariously liable for the actions of your employees, meaning if you “allow” or don’t […]
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Essential HR Policies for Small Businesses and Nonprofits
Regardless of size, every business or nonprofit with employees needs to have certain policies in place. In this series, we’ll be discussing what you need to know when putting these policies into place. But first, which policies should be considered essential, whether you’re hiring your first employee or you’re dusting off an old employee handbook […]
