Can we deny an employee’s use of accrued vacation time?
Answer from Emily, PHR: Yes, the decision to approve or deny the use of accrued vacation time is up to you, assuming you do so in a consistent and non-discriminatory manner. It would be acceptable, for example, to deny a vacation request because approving it would...
Does “at-will employment” mean we can terminate without risk?
Answer from Monica, SPHR, SHRM-CP: No, termination always comes with some risk, even when the employment is at-will. While at-will employment allows either you or the employee to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice, and with or...
Can we extend a new employee’s probationary period? They aren’t meeting expectations yet.
Answer from Kara, JD, SPHR: You can extend an introductory period, but I would recommend a different approach. I’d also advise against using the word “probationary.” I’ll explain both points. Extending the Introductory Period First things first, be aware that having...
What should I do if my employee discloses that their family member or roommate has COVID-19?
Answer from Megan, SPHR, JD: Employees who share a household with someone who is infected should self-quarantine for 14 days after their last exposure per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They should also take their temperature twice a day and...
I just completed the I-9 with a new hire and realized I put down the wrong date. What do I do?
Answer from Megan, SPHR, JD: When you find an error on an I-9, the USCIS recommends that you do the following: Draw a line through the incorrect information.Enter the correct information.Initial and date the correction.Once you’ve completed the above steps, include a...
How Employers Can Support the Mental Health of Their Employees During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health. People have experienced financial hardship, additional challenges with childcare and school cancellations, job loss, reduced hours, sickness, and grief. The future is uncertain, and the present is...
We are reopening after business closure due to COVID-19. Can we bring some employees back, but not others?
Answer from Kyle, PHR: Yes. If you are recalling some positions, but not others, you should document the business reasons why only those positions were recalled. If you are recalling some employees in a certain position, but not everyone in that position, you should...
How do EFMLA and EPSL relate to each other, especially in regard to caring for children?
Answer from Kyle, PHR: The emergency FMLA (EFMLA) and emergency paid sick leave (EPSL) both cover caring for children whose school or place of care is closed due to COVID-19 precautions. The leaves can run concurrently with the first 10 days of EFMLA being unpaid,...
How to Help Underperforming Employees
There are a lot of reasons why an employee or a team may be underperforming, and sometimes it takes a little digging to get at the root of the problem. Under-performance could be due to a skill gap, unclear expectations, or a lack of incentive to perform. It could be...
How Employers Can Rethink Training and Team Building
Writing in Harvard Business Review, Seth Harris and Jake Schwartz argue that competing for skilled workers is a mistake—that organizations would be better served by growing the talent they need from within. Employers are often reluctant, however, to invest in training...