Employers who follow their own policies regarding vacation time are usually safe. But here’s a case where a court forced an employer to make the payment to an employee who was fired for conduct — even though the company’s policy said he wasn’t owed anything.

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Tags: gross misconduct, handbook, paid leave, vacation

Even the best employees occasionally turn into poor performers. What should managers be wary of when disciplining or firing employees who’ve gotten positive reviews in the past?

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Tags: documentation, performance review, returning from leave

In a diverse workplace, you might need to give supervisors some extra sensitivity training to avoid illegal bias.

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Tags: English-only, national origin

Two employees are caught breaking the same rule. One has had behavior problems in the past, the other hasn’t. Can their manager legally fire one and not the other?

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Tags: consistency, flexibility, policies

As businesses continue voicing concern about the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), Congressional Republicans have introduced a new bill they hope will stop the union-friendly proposal in its tracks.

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Tags: Employee Free Choice Act, Secret Ballot Protection Act, unions

Should employees get workers’ compensation benefits when they develop health problems caused by job-related stress? Yes, according to one court.

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Tags: disability benefits, heart attack, worker's comp

A state law granting employees the right keep guns in their cars at work was recently given the thumbs-up by a federal court.

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Tags: guns, Oklahoma, OSHA, safety

Companies need to continue paying for employees’ healthcare coverage while they’re on FMLA leave. But can you recover any of that cost if an employee decides not to come back?

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Tags: FMLA, health premiums, return to work

It’s official: The much-anticipated (and much-feared by many employers) Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) has been introduced to both houses of Congress.

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Tags: Congress, Employee Free Choice Act, unions

Harassment complaint investigations aren’t always clear-cut — they often end up in “he said, she said” territory, with managers unsure of who to believe or what to do. Here’s how one company handled that situation and avoided legal trouble.

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Tags: complaints, evidence, witnesses