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

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

A recent case is a reminder that working in HR is often like herding cats — once you’ve got managers doing one thing right, there’s a chance they’re making mistakes in another area.

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Tags: age, documentation, sex discrimination, supervisor

For whatever reason, not all employees who are offered FMLA leave decide to use it. But can companies get in trouble when those employees are disciplined for excessive absences?

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Tags: FMLA, leave request. absences

Employees can claim ADA protection for a variety of physical and mental conditions. But is work-related stress one of them?

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Tags: anxiety, depression, supervisor

A recent court decision contains a piece of advice for companies trying to contain the costs of unemployment benefits:

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Tags: involuntary termination, resignation, unemployment benefits

Managers are normally the first line of communication with employees who request and take FMLA leave. And as a recent court case shows, careful communication is required to avoid costly lawsuits.

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Tags: communication, FMLA requestion, manager, reduction-in-force

When valuable employees quit, companies may not feel so good about losing top performers. One solution that was attempted recently: Have them thrown in jail.

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Tags: 13th amendment, resignation

An employee is fired after stealing from the company. To warn employees about the consequences of that behavior, his manager e-mails the rest of the staff explaining the termination. Is the company guilty of libel?

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Tags: defamation, libel, termination