HANDBOOK PROHIBITS ‘DISRESPECTFUL CONDUCT’ – WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT? QUESTION: My company recently revised its Employee Handbook. In addition to providing rules on handling discrimination and sexual harassment and setting out the procedures for obtaining benefits, the handbook establishes rules for employee
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CAN BOSS LAYOFF WORKER WHO IS OUT ON FMLA LEAVE? QUESTION: I own a business which is cyclical. My employees know that no job here is forever. A couple of months ago, one of my employees asked for leave under the Family
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TO BE A TRUSTEE OR NOT TO BE? ANSWER DEPENDS ON TRUST – AND YOU QUESTION: My father, a retired French professor, wants to set up a trust that will pay for each of his 21 grandchildren (now ages 2 to 23)
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MAY RACIST RESIDENT INSIST ON HAVING WHITE CAREGIVER? QUESTION: I own a residential facility for severely handicapped adults. One of our residents will only accept care from white, non-Hispanic caregivers. Most of our staff is black or Latino; trying to schedule our
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AFTER QUITTING OLD JOB AND MOVING TO NEW TOWN, NEW HIRE ISN’T WORKING OUT QUESTION: We recently hired a woman who appeared to be an excellent candidate for an upper level position with our firm: She had been doing similar work for
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CAUTION: WAGE HIKE AHEAD! QUESTION: I run a company, with a pretty small profit margin. I pay my worker’s minimum wage; the amount I spend on wages just keeps rising. I heard the minimum wage is going to go up again pretty
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HOW DOES THE GRINCH WRECK YOUR OFFICE HOLIDAY PARTY? WITH LITIGATION, OF COURSE! Best holiday wishes to all our friends and clients! It’s that time of the year again where employers across the state begin planning their workplace holiday party. Our annual
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HOW MUCH OF THEIR RECORD DO FORMER EMPLOYEES HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW? QUESTION: A former employee wrote to my office asking for her personnel file under something called the Bullard-Plawecki Right-to-Know Act. Her file is huge. Do I have to send
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GRIPING LEADS TO LAY-OFF QUESTION: Until recently, I worked at a large company. The building had an office inside a large warehouse area in which vehicles were often tested. Sometimes I could smell the fumes from the vehicles, but it didn’t bother
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WORKER CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? QUESTION: One of my co-workers was arrested for assault. He’s out on bail while he waits for trial, and is still coming to work every day. I feel really uncomfortable, and can’t figure out
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