What Is a Safety Audit and How Can Job Hazard Analysis Help?
My manager is concerned about our company’s ability to pass a safety inspection and wants us to do a safety audit. What is a safety audit?
Tag Archive for: Policies & Procedures
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How To Handle Drug and Alcohol Abuse in the Workplace
HR Question: I am part of our HR team, and a supervisor approached me because they suspect one of their employees may be drunk or on some type of drug that is inhibiting their performance. We have a policy prohibiting workplace drug and alcohol abuse that allows us to test if we have reasonable suspicion. […]
Can I Fire Someone During Their Introductory Period?
HR Question: Can I fire someone during their introductory period? Are there ways to reduce our risk? HR Answer: The short answer can be yes. As long as an employer has a properly written (and implemented) introductory period, there should be little concern over terminating someone during their new hire period. In fact, sometimes it […]
Why Is Harassment Training Important?
HR Question: Do I really need to provide harassment training? Isn’t having an anti-harassment policy sufficient? HR Answer: While it’s definitely a great place to start, having an anti-harassment policy isn’t enough. It’s crucial to ensure that your entire team is on the same page when it comes to definitions, expectations, and consequences surrounding harassment […]
Do I Need a Heat Safety Plan? How Do I Build One?
HR Question: As an employer, I understand it’s my responsibility to take precautions when employees work outside in the heat. Additionally, I learned that OSHA is now conducting Heat Safety Inspections. Do I need a heat safety plan? If so, how do I build one? HR Answer: As summer heats up and the temperatures rise […]
Federal Employment Poster Requirements for On-Site and Remote Workers
HR Question: I keep receiving notices that I need to order new posters to meet federal employment poster requirements. Many of my employees aren’t in the office regularly and those that are don’t look at the posters or any of the compliance documents we are required to distribute. What’s the risk if we don’t post these posters or distribute the annual notifications to employees?
How Do We Create An Emergency Preparedness Plan?
HR Question: We don’t have a formalized emergency preparedness plan, and I think we should probably have one, right? What should we include? HR Answer: You’re right. Every employer needs an emergency action plan for many reasons, including to be compliant with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1020.38(a) requirement. Beyond the […]
Designing a Modern Dress Code for Today’s Workplace
HR Question: We’re taking a look at revising our dress code policy. We want to balance today’s increasingly casual approach while still asking our team members to look professional. How can we create a modern dress code policy? HR Answer: In today’s modern workplace, the concept of dress code has evolved to reflect a more […]
How Can HR Professionals Reduce Workplace Violence?
HR Question: How can we reduce workplace violence? HR Answer: The numbers are staggering and undeniable. According to SHRM’s 2019 study, 48% of HR professionals reported some type of workplace violence incident in their organization. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported in the same year there were 888,220 events or exposures involving injury […]
What is Equal Pay Day?
HR Question: I keep seeing information about “Equal Pay Day” during Women’s History Month. What is Equal Pay Day, and how can I recognize it in my organization? HR Answer: Equal Pay Day is a symbolic day that puts into perspective the 23% pay gap between a woman and a man in the same role. Based […]
Could Sabbaticals Be Your Next Retention Tool?
HR Question: In today’s fast-paced and high-pressure market, it’s difficult to truly disconnect from work. We’ve been trying to find ways to give our team a break to avoid burnout, but sometimes a week of vacation just isn’t enough. Could sabbaticals be the newest tool in our retention toolbox? HR Answer: You’re not alone in […]
What is the Value of Job Descriptions?
HR Question: Do I really need job descriptions for my employees? Are they legally required? We have a small staff and everyone has to be willing to do everything. What is the value of having job descriptions? HR Answer: No, job descriptions are not legally required documents, however, they can help your employees (and their […]
Why Is It Important To Get An Employee’s Signature?
Have you ever had an employee question an employment agreement or say they didn’t mean to agree to a term of their employment? Why is it so important to get an employee’s signature? This is a critical question for all employers, and the answer applies to more than just employment agreements! At its root, a […]
How To Determine If A Home Office Injury Is Covered By Workers’ Compensation
HR Question: Our company has agreed to allow employees to work a hybrid schedule, allowing them to work from home on multiple days during the week. Although this has been very well received by employees, we have seen an increase in the number of injuries from employees working from home. How do I know if […]
How Can I Prevent Unethical Behavior On My Team?
HR Question: I’m a new supervisor. Now that I have oversight of my team, I know it’s my responsibility to keep an eye out for unethical behavior. But what does that behavior look like? How can I prevent unethical conduct on my team? HR Answer: Ethics in the workplace can be a broad and, at […]
Bonus Grants: A Creative Way to Retain and Reward Key Employees
HR Question: I’ve been asked to look into how we can use bonus grants as part of our retention strategy. Can you help? HR Answer: Changes in the economy – as well as clashing generations in the workforce – have altered the employment landscape. Gone are the days of someone retiring after 40 years with […]
Does My Company Need an AED?
Question: AED’s have been mentioned in safety demos and tutorials that I have attended. Does my company need one of these devices? If so, what type of training is needed in order to use it? Answer: The safety and well-being of your employees and anyone who visits your place of employment should be top of […]
Compensating Employees for Travel Time
Question: We have employees who occasionally have to travel from one of our offices to another during their work day. Are we required to pay them for their travel time? Answer: This is a very common situation, and the quick answer is it depends. Exempt employees generally are not entitled to additional compensation for travel […]
How to Handle Unemployment Fraud?
HR Question: Our company is getting unemployment notices for people that have never worked here, or in some cases, people who are still employed. How should I handle this unemployment fraud?
How to Handle Political Talk During the Work Day
HR Question: Since it’s an election year (not to mention one during an unprecedented pandemic), the conversations between my employees are becoming increasingly political. How do I handle this political talk either in the office or with remote workers during office hours? HR Answer: It’s natural that conversations amongst team members can quickly turn political […]
What is a Certificate of Qualification for Employment?
HR Question: This week a hiring manager was excited about a candidate but learned during an interview that the candidate has had a Felony for theft. The candidate mentioned having an Ohio Certificate of Qualification for Employment that they could provide. Although we are not a bank and the role does not handle money, we […]
