
Dilemma of the Month: Employees Taking on New Work for Extra Pay
“Can full-time, permanent employees do freelance work for our California-based company if that work falls outside their job description?”

Dilemma of the Month: Padding an Employee’s Timecard
The Fair Labor Standards Act has strict rules regarding paying nonexempt employees, and California is even stricter; one of the key components is that employees must be paid for every hour they work

Dilemma of the Month: Responding to Requests for Reference Checks
“Evil HR Lady” Suzanne Lucas explains what you should say — and what you shouldn’t — when a prospective employer calls with a reference check.

Dilemma of the Month: Retaliating Against Whistleblowers
After an employee lodged an OSHA complaint against a company, his manager found a journal in the employee’s office that would make any reasonable person cringe in the era of #MeToo. Comstock’s columnist Suzanne Lucas explains why it’s still a bad idea to terminate the employee in this case.

Dilemma of the Month: Switching a Full-Time Worker to a Contractor
A company is considering switching a full-time worker into a contractor after the employee requested to work from home. Can the company legally do this?

Dilemma of the Month: Giving Feedback to Rejected Job Candidates
How and when to give feedback to rejected candidates.

Dilemma of the Month: Cutting Employee Pay
How to cut labor cost during tough times.

Dilemma of the Month: Can I Quit While on Maternity Leave?
While on maternity leave, an opportunity for my dream job has come up, and they want someone immediately. The hiring manager said he was impressed with my resume and would hire me. Do I have to go back to work and then give two weeks’ notice, or can I just quit? I know this might not be ethical, but legally can they do anything to stop me?

Dilemma of The Month: How Employers Should Handle Dangerous Air Quality
What are employers expected to do for employees when the air quality is dangerous? Are we legally obligated to close when the air quality is so bad?

Dilemma of The Month: Coaching An Inexperienced Manager
I’m in my 50s and the HR manager for a startup — about 80 people and the average employee is under 30. I’m dealing with a 20-something problem employee. She’s dramatic, often disrupting work with her grievances. Despite my recommendation, her manager (also young) won’t put her on a performance improvement plan over concerns it will reinforce the idea we have a toxic environment. What can I do?