Send us a text When a new hire of a trucking company follows directives from a supervisor, he lands in hot water - literally - and in a dispute around workmans' comp. What is classified under this umbrella and how can you think about it in realistic terms? This week, Chuck and John dive into all of this an more as they discuss intramural sports leagues, lunchtime volleyball, and... waxing slides?  In the HR News segment, the team touches on the following topics and more: A big merger in the internet job board industry The reality of how people are landing jobs Amazon bringing everyone b ..read more

Send us a text Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: Should supervisors working in the field be exempt or non-exempt? What questions should we ask? When you try to offload responsibilities from Directors to Managers but the Directors continue to step in and say how things should be handled, how do you get them to let go and let the Managers work? How do you get Operation Directors to align with HR goals? When you jump into an HR role but the former HR director didn’t know what they were doing, where do you start? Support t ..read more

Send us a text Whether you’re a seasoned HR professional or someone who was volun-told that you are now handling HR functions at work, there can be an overwhelming amount of questions around every corner and in every process. Maybe you’re trying to figure out how to manage remote workers effectively or how to properly handle an investigation into a claim of harassment. Perhaps you’ve taken a new job and have found that the previous HR team left you nothing but a mess to work with and you don’t even know where to start. These are just some of the examples of situations that you can now feel con ..read more

Send us a text A story in the New York Times brought to light a different side to the Trader Joe's so many know and love, talking about how a policy of positivity and happy greetings was creating quite the opposite of a work environment for employees. In today’s episode, Chuck and John talk about this contradicting policy and environment, particularly with how it came across with a “smile” policy. How do you create a positive environment for customers without putting employees in uncomfortable or unreasonable situations? In the HR News + Updates segment, the team touches on the following topic ..read more

Send us a text Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: Are the new FLSA Salary threshold rules in place for January 2025? Did we miss the announcement? If you have an employee working on the phone with customers and the customer starts speaking very inappropriately, what action can you take against the customer? Do you have any tips on note taking for important meetings? Support the show Our new book...The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Cost ..read more

Send us a text Today, Chuck and John went into the vault to talk about the crazy story that had someone saying, "I'm going to run you over with this forklift!" Join them on this trip into the archives. We'll be back next week with a new Q&A episode. --------- When an employee consistently makes harassing comments and even threatens violence against another coworker, this company made missteps in responding and properly stepping in.  In the HR News segment, the team touches on the following topics and more: E-Verify and I-9 requirements EEOC newly released sexual harassment guidel ..read more

Send us a text In this weird and wacky episode, Chuck and John talk about some of the more strange instances they and other HR professionals have dealt with. Being in the unique position of HR, you’ll encounter all sorts of interesting people and situations, often having to figure out how to navigate the most challenging of circumstances. From nose pickers to scab pickers, tarot card readers to hunting iguanas, listen in to these entertaining (and sometimes gross) stories and text us yours if you have one that can top it!  Support the show Our new book...The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklis ..read more

Send us a text Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: How do you handle a salary non-exempt employee working overtime one week and under hours the next during a pay period? Are you required to give pay increases to all employees? A manager suspects someone is working for a competitor. There is a conflict of interest policy. What do you do? Do you have to investigate problematic statements on social media between employees outside of work? Support the show Our new book...The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AV ..read more

Send us a text Join us in this episode of the HR Stories Podcast, where we uncover the complexities and legalities of the interview process. Chuck and John dive into a lively discussion sparked by a heated Facebook debate on working interviews. They clarify the nuances of what employers can legally ask candidates to do, ensuring organizations navigate the process without falling into legal pitfalls. From job postings to background checks, each step holds potential challenges, and the team will share real-world stories of companies that got it wrong and how they could have done better. JT and C ..read more

Send us a text Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: Does FMLA paperwork need to be filled out by the doctor or can a nurse practitioner fill it out? Can we deny it if the doctor won’t fill it out? What timelines do I need to keep in mind during a merger? How do I handle layoffs and uncertainty around my job status? Support the show Our new book...The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recerti ..read more