Allison Grace Articles

Seven Steps to Avoid Employee Lawsuits - Click To Read Article
Labor and employment disputes represent the top litigation threat to the majority of U.S. corporations, so it's no wonder that a major fear for business leaders is the fear of employee lawsuits.

Dealing with Performance Review Disagreements - Click To Read Article
What do you do when an employee disagrees with something you've written on their performance review? Here are five tips to help you prepare for potential disagreements during performance reviews and how to deal with them effectively.

What You Need To Know Before You Terminate - Click To Read Article
Summary of Federal WARN Act notice provisions and event triggers. And information about WARN Act Updates affecting New York employers.

What the Fair Pay Act Means For Your Business - Click To Read Article
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law this year and may mean an increase in pay discrimination claims. Read this summary of actions you can take to protect your business.

What Are You Legally Required to Pay Employees at Termination? - Click To Read Article
Quick summary of what is commonly paid at termination.

US Court of Appeals Rules on FMLA Waivers - Click To Read Article
Summary of US Court of Appeals ruling that forbids the waiver of rights under the FMLA, including in releases signed in exchange for severance pay.

Victory for Starbucks in Tip-Pooling Class Action - Click To Read Article
A California appeals court has reversed an $87 million award in a tip-pooling class action lawsuit brought against Starbuck's on behalf of the retail chain's baristas (coffee servers). The reversal is a stunning victory for Starbucks and the hospitality industry overall.

Top 5 Warning Signs Your Employees Are Looking For A New Job - Click To Read Article
Signs your employees are looking for a new job.

Top 5 Types of Assistance Offered to Laid Off Workers - Click To Read Article
Benefits provided to laid off workers.

Top 5 Employee Retention Mistakes - Click To Read Article
Yes, it's an employer's market and there are plenty of capable people looking for work in the current economic climate. But now isn't the time to sit back and assume your employees have no options available to them so you can ignore them or treat them poorly. Many employers are making these costly employee retention mistakes.

Top 5 Reasons To Develop An Employee Handbook - Click To Read Article
Do I really need an employee handbook? This question comes up so many times, especially from small business owners, and the answer is YES! But the reasons may not be what you think.

The Importance of Job Descriptions - Click To Read Article
The EEOC recently published its Best Practices to assist employers in avoiding violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act as it relates to employees with caregiving responsibilities (read more about avoiding caregiver discrimination claims at instanthrsolutions.com). One of the recommendations is that employers develop "specific, job-related qualification standards" to ensure that hiring decisions are based on an applicant's qualifications, rather than on his or her personal caregiving responsibilities. The same holds true for any other protected category under federal equal employment opportunity laws, including race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, or age.

Seven Steps To Downsizing - Click To Read Article
If you're like other companies that are scrambling to stay afloat in this economy, you might be considering downsizing. Letting someone go is always a difficult decision, so make sure you are acting rationally and intelligently when you're forced to downsize. Layoffs create risks for businesses. Employees may view a lawsuit as a way to minimize the impact on their personal finances. The savings you'll generate on your payroll and benefits costs may be negated by legal costs. Follow these guidelines to make sound decisions and avoid the costs of litigation.

Quick Tips For Hiring In A Recession - Click To Read Article
Companies that are surviving and even thriving in an economic downturn face the daunting task of sifting through a mountain of job applications for any position they have open. Successful recruiting in this kind of economy boils down to information management. Hiring managers need to take advantage of the high supply in the job market and pull in the right people who can take your company to the next level.

Preparing for Recovery - Click To Read Article
The economic upheaval of the past year has undoubtedly impacted your business in some manner, and we can only imagine what the journey will be like for the next couple of months. The government and the media tell us the economy is turning around, and we're all hoping that's true. Whether it's the latter part of this year or the first quarter of next year, the question is, are you ready?

New laws governing the confidentiality of social security numbers affect Connecticut employers - Click To Read Article
Summary of new regulations that cover Connecticut employers and employee privacy.

New laws protect the privacy of Social Security numbers for New York residents - Click To Read Article
Quick summary of legislation in New York regarding employers' responsibility for privacy of Social Security numbers.

New York State Passes Broadcast Employees Freedom To Work Act - Click To Read Article
New York State Broadcast employers are prohibited from using non-compete agreements as a condition of employment.

New Legislation Affecting Illinois Employers And Reporting of Electronically Transmitted Child Pornography - Click To Read Article
The State of Illinois recently amended the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and now requires that technology workers and their employers report child pornography discovered on information technology equipment to the appropriate authorities.

New York Commuter Tax - Click To Read Article
The state of New York recently passed legislation funding the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which serves the 12-county region of New York City. The legislation includes a new payroll tax on wages and compensation paid to employees who are employed within the New York Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD).

Massachusetts Enacts Legislation To Protect Personal Information - Click To Read Article
Massachusetts has joined other states, including California, Texas, New York, Oregon, and Maryland, to enact legislation that protects the privacy of personal information. The regulations apply to any businesses or individuals that own, license, store or maintain personal information about a state resident.

Mental Health Benefits Update - Click To Read Article
Private group health benefit plans that provide mental health and/or substance use disorder benefits as well as medical and surgical benefits, are now required by this Act to do so on an equivalent basis.

Managing In The New Economy - Click To Read Article
Business leaders and managers should be developing a strategy about how they will lead and retain employees who are impacted by the economic changes of the past year. Following are tips for managing in this "new economy".

Is Outsourcing HR Right For Your Business? - Click To Read Article
Whether you currently have a full-time Human Resources professional on board, or an office manager who is handling basic HR responsibilities, an external Human Resources consultant, such as Instant HR Solutions, can complement your existing structure or lack thereof.

Increase in Government Immigration Enforcement Activities - Click To Read Article
Worksite enforcement activities continue to be expanded by the federal government resulting in significant increases in fines and criminal arrests of company owners and managers. Read more about what you need to do to protect yourself and your business.

Increase in Qualified Transportation Benefit - Click To Read Article
Read this summary if you currently provide or are considering providing transportation benefits to your employees.

Illegal Workers Protected by FLSA - Click To Read Article
Summary of a recent court decision that confirms illegal workers are protected by overtime provisions.

ICE Launches Workplace Immigration Crackdown - Click To Read Article
Earlier this year, the Obama administration broke with a previous policy that targeted undocumented workers for deportation, and implemented instead a strategy to go after U.S. employers hiring illegal immigrants. In keeping with this new focus, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") announced on July 1, 2009 that is has issued 652 Notices of Inspection to businesses that it suspects of violating immigration laws.

How To Create an Employee Incentive Program - Click To Read Article
Interview with Allison Grace in the Charlotte Business Journal about incentive programs. By Bea Quirk, March 23, 2007

How To Avoid Caregiver Discrimination Claims - Click To Read Article
In April 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") published its Best Practices to assist employers in complying with federal anti-discrimination laws as they relate to workers with caregiving responsibilities. The Best Practices are not binding on employers and do not make caregivers a newly protected category under federal law. Rather, these are suggestions from the EEOC to encourage employers to consider "the ways in which family-friendly workplace policies can improve workers' ability to balance caregiving responsibilities with work." The EEOC asserts that these recommendations may also benefit an employers' workers, customer-base and bottom line by improving employee retention, increasing profitability and reducing costs associated with high employee turnover.

Health Benefits for Dependent Children - Click To Read Article
Michelle's Law extends eligibility for group health benefit plan coverage to certain dependent children over the age of 18 who are enrolled in an institution of higher education.

Helping Staff Recover After A Layoff - Click To Read Article
Layoffs are wrenching for companies in many ways. First, there is the sobering reality that layoffs are necessary for the bottom line. Next come the anguishing decisions about what areas to cut, followed by the unpleasant task of sharing the news. No wonder company leaders want to wash their hands of this matter once they hand out the severance packages.

Genetic Tests and Group Health Plans - Click To Read Article
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) amends ERISA to restrict the collection and use of genetic information in connection with group health benefits.

First Impressions Count - Click To Read Article
Tips for getting off to a good start during your first 30 days in a new job.

Five Strategies To Reduce Your Recruiting Costs - Click To Read Article
Economic concerns are causing many businesses to look at all operating costs and find ways to reduce expenses, including the cost of finding and hiring qualified candidates. If using a recruiter doesn't fit in your budget right now, and expensive advertising is yielding so many resumes from unemployed candidates who are desperate for work that you can't manage the inflow, here are five strategies you can implement immediately to reduce your recruiting expenses and find qualified candidates.

Expansion of Employee Retaliation Protection - Click To Read Article
Actions that employers should take in response to the Supreme Court's expansion of employee retaliation protection provided by Title VII.

Federal Minimum Wage Increase - Click To Read Article
REMINDER: On July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage will be increased to $7.25 per hour from the current level of $6.55, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Engaging Your Employees During Difficult Economic Times - Click To Read Article
Tips for keeping your employees engaged when times are tough.

Employee Behaviors That Can Kill Your Business - Click To Read Article
It's important to clarify for your employees what behaviors are deal breakers at your company. At the very least, the following four behaviors should not be tolerated and should lead to immediate or ultimate termination, depending on the nature of the infraction.

Do's and Don'ts of Reference Checks - Click To Read Article
Checklist of what you should and shouldn't do when it comes to providing references.

Developing High Potential Employees - Click To Read Article
Every company has rising stars - the select groups of employees with the potential to one day lead the company - and most realize that these "high-potential employees" are critical to their future success. The challenge for managers lies in motivating, retaining and ultimately developing these high potentials into leadership positions. Here are some ways for you to address this challenge.

Compensation Clawbacks - Click To Read Article
In light of recent events in the financial markets, employers are exploring the use of "clawbacks" to recover bonus compensation payable to employees. Clawbacks are contractual provisions that allow employers to recoup compensation paid to employees in the event of an employee's misconduct and/or termination of employment, or voluntary departure to go and work for a competitor. There are special legal issues that may arise in drafting, negotiating and enforcing such clawbacks that employers need to be aware of to ensure compliance.

Changes to COBRA Require Employer Action - Click To Read Article
Summary of the COBRA subsidy included in the stimulus package and action that employers must take to comply.

Cafeteria Plan Rules Require Employer Action - Click To Read Article
Failure to meet the requirements of Code Section 125 will result in benefits being taxable to all employees participating in the cafeteria plan. Therefore, it is imperative that employers prepare to meet these new requirements now. Given the significant consequences for noncompliance, employers should take immediate note of the following and engage the services of a qualified professional to ensure compliance prior to the anticipated effective date of January 1, 2010.

Benefits of Hiring Older Workers - Click To Read Article
By 2016, it is expected that 1 out of 3 workers will be 50 years of age or older. A labor shortage, as much as 30% by 2030, is expected as boomers continue to mature. Employers who learn how to attract and keep older workers will be able to fill the expected shortfall.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Update - Click To Read Article
Summary of changes to the Americans with Disabilites Act that require employer action.

Attracting the Next Generation of Workers - Click To Read Article
Facing the expected retirement of millions of baby boomers and a smaller pool of Generation X employees to replace them, managers will need the help of another group of professionals: Generation Y. Also known as Millennials, this group consists of more than 80 million individuals born approximately between 1979 and 1999. Millennials are the workforce of tomorrow, and according to a survey conducted by Robert Half International with CareerBuilder.com, hiring managers consider this generation the hardest to recruit and retain.

Acing a Telephone Interview - Click To Read Article
Guidelines for candidates to follow in preparing for and participating in telephone interviews.

#1 Reason Top Performers Leave - Click To Read Article
Survey results.

10 Tips For Dealing With Employee Attitudes - Click To Read Article
Valuable tips for dealing with employee attitudes.


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