A strong new hire orientation program is your first step toward retaining your employees. A well-planned orientation program for new workers will prove beneficial for your entire company. This important program impacts productivity, employee referrals, retention and even employee satisfaction. Results can give you a major return on your investment and translate into money saved in the long run. With workplace turnover expected to increase over the next five years, it’s important for you to make sure your new hire orientation program is as strong as possible. Your program should include information about your company’s mission, vision, culture, policies, benefits, key players in your organization and more. It should also be tailored to your specific company. HR experts offer the following advice when it comes to designing your program: Your new hire program should last anywhere from half to three quarters of a day with a morning break and a lunch break. Make sure all of your new empl ...

Did you know there are some occasions where there is an overlap between workers’ comp and FMLA laws? For example, if an employee claims workers’ comp and is unable to return to work for a long period of time, what happens after FMLA leave has been used? There is often confusion when trying to determine FMLA rights and workers’ compensation coverage. As an employer, you must understand the rules and regulations and know what your role should be so you can help the cause in this situation. What exactly does FMLA offer? It provides qualified employees with 12 work weeks of unpaid leave. This also includes job protection and benefit protection—even if this results in a hardship on you as the employer. And the job of workers’ compensation is to give compensation and medical expenses for work-related injuries. The overlap comes in on the following occasions: Right to reinstatement upon return Obligation to put workers on light duty (when possible) Entitlement ...

Since we’re in the middle of cold and flu season—there are some things you should know when it comes to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and employees being out of work due to sickness. Generally speaking—colds, the flu, earaches and upset stomachs are examples of conditions that do not usually meet the definition of a “serious health condition” and therefore do not qualify for FMLA leave. But it’s important to know any of those conditions could rise to a FMLA-covered serious health condition if the other requirements are met. According to the FMLA, a serious health condition is defined as the following: An illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves either inpatient care (i.e., an overnight stay in a hospital, hospice, or residential care facility); or Continuing treatment by a healthcare provider. In 2009, FMLA regulations changed its definition of “continuing treatment” by a healthcare provider. This regulat ...

Correctly dealing with a harassment lawsuit is a major factor in determining the outcome of the situation. Most times, the situation ends with a settlement, long before the case receives a verdict from a court. Navigating through the situation takes preparation, and discipline to stick with your process. A great way to fare better in these situations is to already be prepared before they appear. This means having harassment preventative measures in place and processes for dealing with employee complaints. As a business owner, you’ll also need to use staff trainings to help employees know what to do in situations that can lead to harassment lawsuits. You’ll want to have a process for employees to voice their complaint internally with thin the company, whether that be with their supervisor, or the HR department. These complaints need to be investigated and documented properly. This documentation should be pursued and created knowing that it will probably find its way into a lawsuit if one arises ...

Have you ever stopped to think what the most common workplace injuries are? According to a new report by Liberty Mutual Group Inc., workplace injuries make up almost 72 percent of direct workers compensation costs in the United States. According to Liberty Mutual’s Workplace Safety Index, overexertion (injuries that are caused by lifting, pushing, pulling, holding and carrying) costs businesses the most at $12.5 billion in direct annual expenses. The report also found overexertion accounts for more than 25 percent of the national burden. The index uses data that researchers collected on injuries that cause at least six days of missed work. With information compiled from 2009 data from Liberty Mutual claims, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Academy of Social Insurance, injury types are ranked by total workers compensation costs. Here are the other top causes of workplace injury (according to the Liberty Mutual report): “Fall on same level” is the number two cause of ...