Employee vs. Independent Contractor

Determining if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor is often confusing to employers. Establishing the right classification is crucial for organizations to comply with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The US Department of Labor (DOL), Wage/Hour Division developed an “Administrator’s Interpretation” to guide employers about the differences between an employee […]

Working Better Together

How many times have you worked with people who just don’t understand you, or you do not relate to them?  Isn’t it easier sometimes to work with people who are just like us?  Yet if we were all the same, that would not be best for our organizations (or even for us, if we are […]

Inclement Weather – To Pay or Not to Pay?

Employers should address two key questions with their inclement weather policy: How will you notify employees if the company will be open or closed?  How will employees be paid if the company is closed all day, or for a partial day? The method of payment for hourly employees when they miss work due to inclement […]

HR Basics: Are Holiday Gifts Taxable?

QUESTION: As the holidays are approaching, we are looking for ideas for employee gifts. If we give gift cards or gift certificates, will they be taxable to the employee? What about hams and turkeys? ANSWER: Anything that equates to giving cash must be considered taxable income for the employee. This includes gift cards, gift certificates […]

Human Resources: What Measures Can An Employer Take To Stop Employees From Gossiping?

Casual gossip is inherent in the culture of many companies and, for as long as people work together, employers will have to deal with gossip. But at its worst, gossip involves vicious rumors that create animosity among co-workers and disruptions in the workforce. Gossip rarely is a form of flattery and in most circumstances lacks […]

HR’s Perspective on Social Media

Social Media Dos & Don’ts  Do have a policy. As with all policies, if you are not going to follow it, it is better not to have one. However, most employees have come to expect guidelines regarding social media from their employer. The following are a couple of tips if your company institutes a social […]

Unpaid Intern or Paid Trainee?

Question: We are considering recruiting several college students for our summer internships. Do we have to pay them? Answer: In some cases, individuals working for an employer in a training capacity do not qualify as formal “employees” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and therefore do not have to be paid as you would […]

Someone Smells Funky

How do you address offensive body odor in the workplace?  This can be a very delicate employee relations issue.  Such a problem cannot be ignored, whether it is something you notice, or if a colleague complains.  Yet, it is important to take a direct and sympathetic approach directly with the individual.  If it is left […]

Protecting Your Center’s Children: Policy and Child Abuse Prevention

As a provider of sports programming for youth, your organization can play a critical role in protecting the lives of young athletes. You can help put an end to child sexual abuse by implementing a comprehensive child protection program and training your coaching staff and volunteers. Ask any organization that has experienced a case of […]

Workplace Violence: What Steps Should You Take Now?

Due to recent events in the news you have probably found yourself asking what if violence entered your workplace? This can happen in a number of different ways – a disgruntled current employee, a potentially violent individual you recently terminated, an unhappy spouse, or someone who wasn’t even on your radar.  Under the OSHA General […]