If you’ve ever had a position in a company or a business, small or large, you probably know what an employee handbook is. It’s a packet with vital information about what you can expect when working at so and so company, what they expect of you, legal obligations, employees rights and an overall guide to making your job or position at that business all the better. If you want to write an employee handbook, revise it or you already wrote one and you want to make sure that you included everything needed, make sure you keep reading to see which topics you should include and some examples you should put in your employee handbook. It’s also a good idea to go over these guides, especially the legal sections with an employment lawyer.
Every single day, people show up for a job they either love or they hate. Most of the time if it’s a job they hate, it’s because it’s a hostile work environment. Some people don’t even realize this is a real thing and they just take their abuse like they think they should – especially if it’s the boss dolling it out. However, a hostile work environment is a real issue and it comes in all forms. Not only is this something that women can go through, but men as well. Any type of abuse that makes you uncomfortable, feel awkward, not be able to do your job correctly or feel hesitant about coming into work – is not allowed, not right, and there are things you can do the educate yourself. Just look below to see the different types of abuse/harassment and find out what you can do to stop working in a hostile work environment.
Getting a new job is an exciting and somewhat nervous situation to go through. We’ve all seen those packets of forms you have to fill out after you get the job, including an EEO. These EEO forms or Equal Employment Opportunity really help protect you, as well as the employer from discrimination. Of course there are different types of discrimination, but the law states that no matter your race, sex, creed or origin you have an equal opportunity for employment just as much as someone outside of the 4 protected classes. There are also other protected classes though such as age discrimination, disability discrimination, genetic discrimination, and even sexuality – though sexuality is not exactly a law per se, since it has not been signed by congress. Yet. To find out more about these types of discrimination, keep reading and find out if you are being discriminated against and how to file a complaint.
Independent contractors are on the rise in the United States. With growing healthcare costs and a lagging economy, companies are doing more and more of their hiring on a contract basis. Independent contractors are in business for themselves. They are self employed, meaning they do not work directly for companies and have not been hired as actual employees. There are advantages and disadvantages to being an independent contractor. The advantages include the ability to decide your own hours, to choose when and for whom you want to work, and to negotiate your own terms and rate of pay. Drawbacks include the requirement of paying your own taxes as well as purchasing your own health insurance. The employment laws that pertain to independent contractors are not as comprehensive as those that pertain to the employer-employee relationship, in part because of the very nature of being an independent contractor. People who work for themselves often do so because they choose to work on their own terms.
More people than ever are joining the ranks of those who have cast off the shackles of the ‘workaday world’ (as your grandfather used to call it), deciding instead to become freelancers. But what does it mean when you hear someone say they ‘freelance’? And is an independent contractor or a consultant the same as a freelancer? The short answer? No one knows. Well, of course, employment lawyers know the difference, but if you try typing the question into a search engine, you’re likely to get a thousand different answers from a thousand different people (and not to mention bickering from here ’til the end of cyberspace). Most would agree, however, that the terms ‘freelancer,’ ‘independent contractor,’ and ‘consultant’ are oft used interchangeably … with one major difference, and that difference comes in the word ‘contract.’ Oftentimes, freelancers will work under contract … and oftentimes they won’t. Independent contractors, however, are called such because they work under contract. True, most who consider themselves to be freelancers tend to work in artistic pursuits. However, artists can also be independent contractors simply because they can work under contracts. But what about the employment laws that pertain to freelancers? Are they that much different from the employment laws regarding employees?
Like thousands of other mobile software applications, medical apps are gaining in popularity for their ease of use and the valuable information they offer consumers. Medical apps were developed with a number of benefits in mind, including aiding doctors in diagnosing patients without the need to perform examinations, as well as helping patients in better management of their chronic health conditions. This convenience has made medical apps a favorite among users of mobile devices. However, their growing widespread usage has also raised questions about the need for medical apps to be regulated by the federal government. How much medical regulation and compliance should there be for medical applications, especially if doctors are diagnosing without actual medical examinations, and how should other medical apps be regulated?
Americans born Post-World War II between the years 1946 and 1964 are known as the baby boomers. They’re associated with rebellion, reeducation, and redefinition of traditional values. And with that redefinition of values has come a reworking of traditional marriage and divorce. Boomers are divorcing at a much higher rate than any generation before them, creating greater concerns for their futures. Now that the kids are out of the house, they find themselves reflecting more deeply on self, spouse, and the relationship between the two. Their concerns are now directed toward self fulfillment more than previous generations, and their self reflection has redefined retirement. Baby boomers are more likely to opt for partial employment in their retirement or starting over with new careers. But divorce can throw a wrench into retirement plans.