Managing Today’s Workplace:
The Slope Has Never Been More Slippery

03/06/07

Disability, harassment, privacy. OSHA, USERRA, HIPAA. With so many employment laws to deal with, today’s workplace can seem to be more about limiting your liability than managing and motivating your employees. For busy managers, even a minor mistake can prove costly. To minimize risk, it’s vital to not only identify common workplace mistakes, but to avoid them altogether.

Here are examples of common situations managers may encounter:

“Well, he volunteered to work after hours. How do I owe him overtime?
Always pay overtime to a non-exempt employee working off the clock, even if he or she does so voluntarily. You may discipline or terminate for taking unauthorized overtime, but you still must pay the overtime.

“So, do you have any children?”
During a job interview, even when you're engaging in casual small talk, questions about children, while seemingly harmless, violate employment laws on discrimination.

“You need WHAT to do your job?”
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employees with special needs may ask for and receive certain reasonable accommodations.

“If I confide a harassment situation, can we keep it between us?”
As a manager, you are required by law to report every case of sexual harassment you are made aware of so it can be properly investigated.

These and other mistakes often take place during casual, routine workplace interactions and are quite common – though not always obvious – among managers. With today’s complex employment laws, and workplace lawsuits on the rise, the need to avoid these mistakes has never been greater. Be sure to make an ongoing management training program an important part of your company's practices.

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12 Mistakes Managers Commonly Make Training Program

G.Neil’s engaging, attorney-developed, 60-minute video program helps managers — new and seasoned — avoid mistakes that lead to costly lawsuits. 12 Mistakes shows the pitfalls common in the workplace through 12 realistic storylines, or scenarios, with graphics summarizing key points and legal guidelines. It addresses interviewing, performance documentation, harassment, privacy rights, overtime, and many more management issues.

12 Mistakes Managers Commonly Make Training Program

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September 2005