We get a lot of questions about accessing company personnel files, and it’s always from employees who think there’s something negative in there or something that shouldn’t be in there at all. The problem is that your personnel file doesn’t belong to you; that’s the property of the company. Companies can set policies to determine […]
Read MoreThere are occasions when an employee has some kind of health condition that makes him require a reasonable accommodation. For example, an employee is injured and unable to drive and suggests that he work from home. Now, this could be a reasonable accommodation if the employee is the sort who can work on a computer […]
Read MoreI have several clients who have wonderful employee handbooks for the 20th century. They haven’t updated them in years. This could be a fatal error. The law’s changing with great frequency, especially laws governing employment. I recommend that you at least take a good hard look at your employee handbook once a year, to make […]
Read MoreA lot of employers are lighthearted individuals and they think that joking with the people they employ is going to make their day and raise morale, and up to a certain point they’re absolutely right. Nobody wants to come and deal with a gloomy boss, but you’ve got to be careful. The way the law […]
Read MoreWe get a lot of calls from people in New Jersey who are complaining that the boss is treating them differently from other employees. On its face, there’s nothing wrong with that. An employer is entitled to treat people differently based on their performance, based on their value to the company, based on whether he […]
Read MoreThere’s a vexing problem of drug abuse, and even alcohol abuse, in the workplace. One of the issues that employers face on a regular basis is whether than can send an employee out for a drug or alcohol test. The answer to that is, yes. You have control over the workplace and you have an […]
Read MoreA concern that arises frequently among New Jersey employers involves the Family Medical Leave Act. This concern is whether the accrued vacation and sick days of an employee extends the Family Leave Act time available to them. The answer is, no. Under the Act, it is entirely appropriate for you to make an employee use […]
Read MoreThere’s no statute, law, or provision anywhere that requires you to have job descriptions. However, it’s a very good practice. If you don’t have a description of what somebody is supposed to be able to do for you, then how can you justifiably say the person isn’t doing his job? Here again, it’s a question […]
Read MoreA good number of disgruntled employees will file a charge with EEOC rather than follow a law suit immediately. If they’re pursuing a federal claim, they’re required to do so before filing suit, but they’re not required to do so if they’re filing under New Jersey’s law against discrimination. One of the questions comes up, […]
Read MoreA lot of employers really question whether it’s worth it to train their employees in the harassment, discrimination, and retaliation laws of New Jersey, so that they know what kind of behavior is unacceptable and how to report it when it happens. They do complain that it’s a very expensive process and they’re right, but […]
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