Perspectives

When starting a new job or being offered a promotion, it is easy to be wooed by the employer’s offers. You suddenly have cartoon dollar signs in your eyes and you are ready to sign on every dotted line in sight. The employer-employee relationship, like any other relationship, may start out wonderful; however keep in mind that it may not last forever. So when the employer starts placing stacks of documents in front of you, remember that a noncompete could have a significant and detrimental impact on your future.  …

Many employers think they can avoid having to pay overtime by making their employees salaried. Unfortunately, if you’re an employer, simply paying workers on a salary basis is not enough to exempt you from that requirement—in fact, doing so could subject you to expenses well in excess of what that overtime pay would cost you in the first place. …

An Employee Handbook is like a cheese soufflé: Made correctly, it can be a wonderful way to showcase your culinary skills in public;   made incorrectly, an Employee Handbook can be such a mess that is better left in the kitchen, hidden from view.

Why should your company bother to create an Employment Handbook?

An Employee Handbook can be an excellent method of communication with your employees. It can address common issues such as how paid time off accrues or whether the company can open an employee’s locker without the employee’s permission. …

Let’s face it, we are all ruled by our emotions. How do you feel when someone cuts you off in traffic?  How about when someone insults you or calls you an unflattering name?  Most people have a natural reaction in such situations: They want to get even.

My point is this: People act on emotions.  When you decide to fire an employee, if you can do it in a way to minimize the emotional impact on the employee, you will reduce the likelihood of a dispute with the terminated employee. …