Can we ask employees for proof of COVID-19 vaccination?

by | May 4, 2021 | covid-19, Employment Law, Human Resources

Answer from Kara, JD, SPHR: You can ask employees for proof that they’ve received the COVID-19 vaccine, but you need to be careful about how you ask for it and what you do with the information. You should ask employees to provide proof that only includes their name,...

We’ve recently learned that one of our employees is planning to leave the company and has been applying for positions elsewhere. Can we terminate them?

by | May 4, 2021 | Business Tips, Employment Law, Human Resources

Answer from Kelley, PHR: Terminating employment because an employee is looking for work elsewhere isn’t expressly prohibited by law, but we wouldn’t recommend it. You might be surprised by how many of your employees are looking for other opportunities—either actively...

One of our employees was arrested today. Can we terminate their employment?

by | Apr 26, 2021 | Employment Law, Human Resources

Answer from Laura, SHRM-CP: We would recommend against terminating employment simply on the basis of an arrest. For one thing, the fact of an arrest is neither proof that criminal conduct occurred nor an indication that the arrested employee will be convicted of a...

An employee says that the stress of the job is affecting their mental health. How should we handle this?

by | Apr 20, 2021 | Business Tips, General News, Human Resources

Answer from Kyle, PHR:   This employee may just need to talk through their concerns and get your help prioritizing or delegating. They may, for example, feel like every single thing on their to-do list is life-or-death by Friday at close of business, when that’s...

How Important is an Updated Employee Handbook?

by | Mar 17, 2021 | Business Tips, Human Resources

Does your employee handbook have a coating of dust on it? Was it last printed in 2008? If so, it’s probably time for an update. This important company asset is distributed to new employees during their onboarding and orientation, but it may be beneficial to you and...

Is there a downside to screening the social media accounts of job candidates?

by | Jan 25, 2021 | Business Tips, Employment Law, Human Resources

Question:  Is there a downside to screening the social media accounts of job candidates? Answer from Kyle, PHR: There can be downsides, yes. First, screening social media accounts creates extra risk. You could be exposed to information about a candidate’s protected...