Top HR Issues for 2008

Here are the top issues for 2008 according to hundreds of business executives & HR professionals that I work with:

#1 Wage & Hour…The laws haven’t changed that much. But employees have access to information like never before. Most employees know more about their FLSA rights than their managers do. A risky gap. Remember, unauthorized overtime MUST be paid to be safe. Check out dol.gov and review the FLSA Fair Pay Standards.

#2 Termination/Lay-Off…Did you give the employee a reasonable chance to save his/her job and can you prove it? Yes, most of us can fire at-will AND get sued at-will! Documentation is still the best defense (if you have a “probationary period” you may have already put the “at-will” relationship at risk). If you use the term “lay-off” you may be held to calling back that employee. Consider using the term “reduction-in-force” to be safe.

#3 Sex…sex discrimination, gender bias, equal pay violations, maternity/FMLA retaliation, sexual harassment…Women just don’t put up with this stuff anymore. And shouldn’t have to!!

#4 Immigration…Make sure your I-9 forms are up to date. The current and only acceptable version going forward is dated 6/05/07. Watch for States to increase penalties against employers ranging from revoking your business license to felony/jail time. Check out uscis.gov for updated forms and government’s E-Verify system.

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