HR News

Ask HR: Is charging for till shortages legal?

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Dear HR, My onsite manager has been requiring staff to pay till shortages out of our own pockets when shortages occur. Is this practice legal? HR Answer: No. Oregon Law does not allow deductions from wages or reimbursement for shortages, breakages, losses, or theft. Managers/Employers should clearly communicate their cash handling procedures and policies. If an employee does not follow proper cash handling procedures and policies, then corrective action such as discipline up to, and […]

Ask HR: Help addressing racial comments

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Dear HR, I’m writing for help—How do I file a report that my supervisor has been making racial comments directed towards me and is making me feel uncomfortable?  What can I do to stop the problem? HR Answer: Thank you for reporting this issue to HR immediately since talking to your supervisor is not an option. We take reports of harassment and discrimination very seriously. HR will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation. If a […]

Surviving the Oregon Minimum Wage Hike – Part 4

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Tips for Minimum Wage Hike Survival: Employee Performance & Engagement   Congratulations! You are well on your way to having the most cost-efficient workforce! Now that you have learned how to conquer the roadblocks of Hiring Right, Tracking Time and Attendance, and understanding the importance of Employee Training – our last couple of tips for Surviving the Oregon Minimum Wage series will focus on Engaging and Retaining your staff.   With the Oregon Minimum Wage […]

Ask HR: Does rehab qualify for medical leave?

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Dear HR, A current employee has inquired about alcohol rehab programs. My question is, if they took a couple of months off to get “sorted out” would they be able to continue employment after treatment?  Would that be a situation that falls under OFLA/FMLA?   HR Answer: Alcoholism could be considered a “serious health condition” under the FMLA/OFLA. An employee may take FMLA/OFLA leave to enter a treatment program. FMLA/OFLA will not protect absences resulting […]

Surviving the Oregon Minimum Wage Hike – Part 3

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Tips for Minimum Wage Hike Survival: Employee Training With minimum wage increasing in Oregon and across the nation, it’s more important than ever to maximize your employee talent.   Ensure your business’ success by giving employees the tools and skills they need to succeed. Whether it is showing your new hires the right processes early on or offering continuing education of your existing team — training pays off!

Ask HR: Working “extra hours” – Volunteering? or Wage & Hour red flag?

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Dear HR, At a recent board meeting of our non-profit organization, our team gave huge kudos to a team member for putting in some extra hours.  This raised a red flag in my mind — Does this employee need to be paid for all these “extra hours?”   HR Answer: Yes! Way to notice those wage and hour red flags! Employees’ hours worked should not be exceeding what is reported on the timecard.   We understand due to […]

New Overtime Exemption Rules

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As expected, the United States Department of Labor has made changes to the salary threshold used to determine if an employee is exempt from overtime.  Summary of all changes Previously the minimum threshold was $455 per week. This minimum has jumped to $913 per week or $47,476 per year. There were other proposed rule changes discussed but there were no other major changes except for a mechanism to review salary thresholds every three years.

Ask HR: Reoccurring till shortages – Help me get discrepancies under control!

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Dear HR, I have been noticing an employee’s register with reoccurring shortages in the $10-$15 range.  Employees start with a new balanced till at the beginning of their shift and no one else has access to the till for the remainder of the day. I do not want to fire them unnecessarily, but I need to get these discrepancies under control!     HR Answer: If you believe that the employee is making an honest mistake on their till, we recommend speaking with […]

Surviving the Oregon Minimum Wage Hike – Part 2

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Tips for Minimum Wage Hike Survival: TIME AND ATTENDANCE   Tracking time for your employees has never been easier. Using a time and attendance tracking system allows you to manage labor in real time and gives you the tools to measure your labor costs more effectively. These systems provide instant access for tracking attendance, managing overtime and monitoring paid/unpaid time off. Cardinal can help alleviate the burden of time and attendance tracking while reducing clerical […]

Ask HR: New hire’s drug test is positive – Now what?

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Dear HR, Our potential new hire has tested positive for THC – do I really have to wait an entire 180 days to hire my employee that has been tested?   HR Answer: Although it is our policy to wait 180 days — since you have known the new hire for some time now and your workplace requires additional help immediately, we offer an exception clause that can be used sparingly. The new hire can sign a “Last Chance […]