We have under 100 employees and are not required to mandate the COVID vaccine. We’re considering doing so anyway, but we’re also interested in other ways of encouraging our employees to get vaccinated. What incentives have been most effective?

Incentives are a good idea if you don’t want to mandate the COVID vaccine. Bonuses have been shown to convince at least some hesitant employees. You could, for example, establish a policy that every vaccinated employee gets $100. If you go the monetary incentive...

What questions should an employer avoid asking during the recruiting and interview process?

Answer from Brody, PHR, SHRM-CP: You should avoid questions that are not job-related or that cause an applicant to tell you about their inclusion in a protected class. These would include questions about race, national origin, citizenship status, religious...

What should I do if an employee moves to a different state and will be working from there?

Answer from Emily, SPHR: There are several things you need to do if an employee moves out of state: If you don’t already have other employees there, you’ll need to set up payroll tax accounts in the new state. The state in which the employee physically works is the...

What is a leave entitlement?

Answer from Kyle, PHR: The term leave can refer to just about any type of time away from work, but it’s often used to describe time an employee is entitled to take by law or company policy. Common leave entitlements include vacation, personal days, and sick days....

Maine Law Alert: Alert Icon Maine Bans the Box, Expands EEO, and More

Maine has banned the box, added familial status and status as a domestic violence victim to its list of classes that are protected from employment discrimination, and added caring for a sick grandchild as a reason to take family and medical leave. All changes are...

What is a disability?

Answer from Kim, SPHR, AAM, CPIW: Our definition of disability comes from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the ADA, an individual with a disability is a person who: Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major...