Telecommuting is fast becoming a popular employee benefit used to attract and retain qualified employees.  However, as with any benefit, there are several legal issues employers should consider before implementing a telecommuting program. 

Work Schedules
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers are required to pay employees for hours worked, including any applicable overtime.  However, when employees telecommute, it is more challenging for an employer to physically observe when an employee is working.  As such, it is imperative for employers to ensure that employees engage in accurate timekeeping procedures and daily clock in and out procedures.  Employees should also sign an agreement acknowledging that they can only work overtime upon receiving prior written approval. 

Did you know that age discrimination claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) increased approximately one percent in 2011?  And, as baby boomers continue to stay in the workplace, the likelihood of age discrimination claims increasing in 2012 is very high. 

As an employer, there are several steps you can take to minimize the risk of one or more employees filing a complaint of age discrimination under the Age Discrimination Employment Act (ADEA).  The ADEA prohibits discrimination against individuals aged 40 and older.

Within the span of a few seconds of a person seeing you, they’ve formed an opinion about the type of person you are.  You didn’t need to speak and you didn’t need to do anything for the person to have formed an opinion.  Instead, the opinion was most likely formed by how you looked, including what you wore, how you wore it and your overall personal hygiene.

I usually don’t send you information on technology, but what better way to improve employee productivity but with free and reliable tools at your fingertips! 

There are many great software products out there, but one of my favorite “one-stop shop” resources is Google, particularly if you use Google Chrome as your browser… through the Google chrome Web store (https://chrome.google.com/webstore), you can literally lose your self in a sea of productivity tools.  The majority are free and will make your work not only easier to accomplish, but a lot more fun!

Below are some of my favorites, the write up courtesy of mashable.com. 

The VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 was passed in November 2011 to help the approximately one million unemployed veterans find employment.  The Act includes a number of new programs and improvements to current programs.
Improved Transition Services

Under the Act, improvements to transition assistance programs for separating service members allow service members to apply for federal employment before they leave the military.  Service members also have the opportunity to take apprenticeships or enroll in on-the-job training programs with military or defense contractors while on leave.  These opportunities allow veterans to have a head start on finding employment.