SICK EMPLOYEES
Question: A few of my employees have shown up for work sick. I appreciate their dedication, but I’d rather they not come to work when ill. Can I send them home and require that they use their sick leave? Answer: Yes, you can. Recognize that there may be reasons why employees are showing up sick that might include: […]
INJURY AT WORK
Question: My employee tripped on a pothole in our parking lot and broke their arm. Do we have any obligations? Answer: Probably. If you own and maintain the parking lot and the employee was injured while coming to or from work, then it may fall under Workers’ Compensation. If not, it may fall under your […]
PETS AT WORK
Question: Now that we are back in the office, my dog is having separation anxiety. Can I bring him to work with me if I keep him in my office? Answer: While a lot of people enjoy having a dog around, there are several things to think about before starting to bring your dog to work. […]
EMPLOYEE GIFTS
Question: With rising costs, I want to give my employees a gift card to reward them for their hard work. What should I consider? Answer: Acknowledging an employee’s contribution to the company is almost always a good thing. Making the effort to recognize an employee’s hard work helps to reinforce their commitment to the company. When […]
NON-EXEMPT HOLIDAY PAY
Question: Do I have to pay non-exempt employees for a holiday if we are closed? Or a special rate If they work? Answer: Probably not. There is no federal law to pay non-exempt employees for holidays if they do not work or to pay a premium rate if they do work. Massachusetts and Rhode Island […]
EXIT INTERVIEWS
Question: Do I need to conduct exit interviews with employees who are separating from the company? Answer: No, exit interviews are not required. They are tools that can help you gather information about the employee’s experience at your company when they may feel freer to be more honest and open. If you decide to conduct exit […]
REMOTE EMPLOYEE UNAVAILABLE
Question: We have a remote employee who works their required number of hours each day but usually outside of our normal work hours. They are often unavailable for calls or meetings with management or co-workers and even clients have expressed frustration with their unavailability. While we believe employees should have some flexibility in when they […]
2023 Workplace Trends to Watch
From return-to-office, which was Glassdoor’s Word of the Year, to quiet quitting, 2022 introduced us to several new labor market concepts. It’s still too early to predict what terms will define our workplaces in 2023, but here are a few labor market trends to look for as the year progresses. #1-Where Are Your Employees? – […]
Understanding Total Comp & Total Cash Comp
As strong demand for qualified workers continues to be a challenge for employers in 2023, compensation remains at the forefront for businesses trying to retain and recruit talent. Having a better understanding of compensation can ensure you spend your dollars wisely and are able to communicate the true value of your employees’ compensation with clarity. […]
Compensation Planning Basics
Understanding compensation is critical to staying competitive in today’s volatile labor market. Real wage growth is a concept that is particularly important. Real wages/income is calculated by dividing the current wage by 1 plus the current inflation rate. For an employee currently making $40,000, the individual’s real income is reduced to $36,866 when the current […]
