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Home | Special Reports

Special Reports

Like our award-winning monthly newsletter, every Employer Resource Institute publication distills into plain English the essentials you need to know to comply with the state and federal rules and regulations governing your relationship with your employees.

You'll find that the Special Reports below are brief (12 pages or less) and easy to read and understand. Our Employer Guides are similar in approach—still concise, but more comprehensive (from 20 to 26 pages). There's no need to wade through references to obscure court rulings and regulations of interest only to lawyers. Instead, you get the results of our painstaking analysis: to-the-point, practical, real-world advice on what you need to do now to stay up to date—and out of court.

DOWNLOAD: What's New For 2010: Workplace Developments Affecting California Employers—And How To Comply

This exclusive Special Report will walk you through these new laws and cases, giving you a sneak preview of what's coming your way—and how to prepare—in 2010. We've included an easy 10-point checklist of what employers should do to make sure their policies and procedures conform to new requirements. Additionally, as a special bonus, our CEA Online subscribers can access the sample policies mentioned here . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Avoid Defamation Lawsuits

In this exclusive Special Report, we'll explain what defamation is, how it happens, how to defend yourself if you're accused of it, and-- most important of all--how to avoid it completely in the first place. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: FMLA and CFRA Compliance Guide

This Special Report is intended to make your job easier by pulling together essentials of the family leave laws that you need to know. First, the new family leave regulations are clearly summarized. Then, detailed explanations are given of both your and your employees' rights and obligations, incorporating the new rules and changes. We'll also direct you to a sample medical certification form. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: HR Recordkeeping for California Employers

Recordkeeping is surely one of HR's most vexing responsibilities. Records are one of the last things most managers and supervisors want to deal with, yet they're one of the first things attorneys and courts want to see when there's a lawsuit. In this exclusive Special Report, two California attorneys explain what records to keep, what records to toss, and how to make sure your records protect you. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: 50 Secrets for Preventing Employee Lawsuits--Plus 10 Tips for Saving Money and Aggravation If You're Sued

Our 50-point self-audit checklist pulls together--in an easy-to-follow format--all the important areas that should be reviewed at least annually by small and large employers alike. Customize the checklist to fit your own needs, and remember to perform an audit whenever your organization has undergone significant changes. Also, the Appendix includes practical sample forms and policies you can tailor to your organization's needs to help bring your company into compliance with the maze of legal requirements. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Who's Entitled to Overtime? How to Avoid Mistakes When Classifying California Employees
This report is designed to clear the confusion with figuring out which employees are exempt and which aren't and guide you through this complicated area of the law. We've included helpful checklists you can use to determine who's exempt and who isn't. Plus, you'll find out which common pay practices to avoid, so you don't inadvertently destroy an employee's exempt status. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: What's New For 2009: Workplace Developments Affecting California Employers--And How To Comply

This Special Report will walk you through these new laws and cases and give you a sneak preview of what's coming your way in 2009. We've included a comprehensive 14-point checklist of what employers should do to make sure their policies and procedures conform to new requirements. . . . more

Defuse the Violence: Protect Your Workforce--And Your Company:

This 28-page Employer Guide contains a 7-step program for preventive action, tips for how to respond when violence erupts, sample policies, and more. Workplace violence is a serious problem. Frightening and sometimes tragic incidents of workplace rage are being reported more frequently. A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management reveals that more than half the companies in the United States have experienced some form of workplace violence. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Navigating a Reduction in Force

The economy is in a slump, and it's not clear when economic indicators will start to look up. Most employers are feeling the pinch and looking for ways to cut costs to stay afloat. For some, layoffs may be--or already are--on the horizon. Making your way through a reduction in force (RIF) can be one of the more difficult and multifaceted tasks an employer faces. How do you decide whether to cut jobs? What's the best way to select who must go? How can you avoid age bias claims? . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Win the Recruiting War -- How to Find and Hire Great Employees

Is it really getting harder to recruit and retain qualified employees? The answer is an unqualified "yes." Many employers are aware that significant changes in the U.S. population are causing workplace shortages and changes in the way in which employers must recruit to fill job openings. What many employers don't know, however, is that the U.S. labor market is only at the beginning of what some HR experts are calling the "workforce meltdown"—the clash between a diminishing supply of qualified workers and the explosive increase in need for those workers. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: What's New for 2008 - Workplace Developments and What California Employers Must Do to Comply

In this Special Report, we'll tell you about the new laws you need to contend with for 2008, and we'll also take a look back at important cases and other legal news from the past 12 months that impact your compliance requirements going forward. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Understanding Workers' Compensation: A Guide for California Employers

This exclusive Special Report will guide you through the nuts and bolts of the California workers' comp system, including information on benefits and insurance coverage; what to do when someone gets injured; setting up a return-to-work program; posting and notice obligations; detecting fraud; where to go when you have questions; and other day-to-day workers' compensation issues employers must know about. We include a wealth of useful tips, a sample policy, and a checklist, all designed to make your administration of workers' comp a little bit easier. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: The Employer's Compliance Guide to Supervisor Sexual Harassment Training in California

This Special Report contains everything employers need to know to comply with the supervisor antiharassment training law. This all-new guide covers the basic provisions of A.B. 1825 and the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (FEHC) regulations that implement it. This guide also provides compliance checklists and a model antiharassment policy and policy acknowledgement form . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Employee Complaints: An Investigation and Action Guide

Suppose an employee tells you she was sexually harassed by a supervisor. Or an employee reports that a co-worker is violating a company policy. Or perhaps a worker informs you that an expensive piece of equipment is dangerous and should be replaced. In this Special Report, we've created a workplace investigation and action guide that all employers - regardless of size - can use as a checklist to help focus on the critical issues. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Performance Appraisals: How to Bolster Employee Performance and Decrease Your Risk of Lawsuits

In this exclusive employer guide, we'll tell you what performance appraisals are, why they're so important, and some key do's and don'ts. We'll walk you through the process from start to finish, and give you two sample performance appraisal forms that you can use as a starting point when crafting or revising your own materials. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Managing Leave and Reinstatement for Military Reservists

With thousands of reservists called up for military action and many returning back to their jobs, employers need to understand their legal obligations to workers who take military leave to serve in the armed forces. The primary law regarding military leave is the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, also known as USERRA. California has some of its own military leave requirements . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Prehire Screening--Safe, Successful Ways to Check Out Applicants, an Essential Guide for California Employers

Prehire screening takes a number of different forms and can include reference checking, license and education verification, medical or psychological testing, drug screening, skills testing, and credit checks. In this Employer Guide, we explore screening procedures closely to evaluate when they are appropriate and identify the legal risks associated with them. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Employee or Independent Contractor? Hiring and Classifying Contract Workers In California

In this Employer Guide, we lead you step by step through the process of evaluating whether a worker should be classified as an employee or an independent contractor. We examine the various tests for deciding a worker's status and provide a handy 20-point checklist that can help you assess where you stand. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: A Guide to California's New Daily Overtime Rules

In 1999, then-Governor Davis signed into law the Eight-Hour-Day Restoration and Workplace Flexibility Act (A.B. 60) to bring back overtime pay for millions of nonexempt employees who work more than eight hours a day. The law put to rest the controversy that raged between employers and labor groups since . . . more

DOWNLOAD: The Complete Guide to Understanding and Preventing Age Bias in the Workplace

Age bias has become a pervasive problem in American workplaces. This Special Report will explain exactly what you need to do to stay out of trouble and reap the benefits of a seasoned workforce. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: How to Create Job Descriptions That Prevent Employee Lawsuits and Simplify Your Hiring Process -- An Essential Guide for California Employers

This comprehensive guide takes you step-by-step through the process of drafting job descriptions. We've included practical information on why job descriptions are important to have in place, which details you should—and should not—include in them, and how to make sure your job descriptions stay up-todate. You'll also find a handy drafting checklist and sample job descriptions. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Paid Time Off Banking Kit: How You Can Save Money, Boost Morale, and Increase Efficiency

It's the Friday before a long holiday weekend, and one of your employees calls in sick—again. You're left short-staffed and backed up with work. If this scenario is all too familiar, consider whether your time off policy is contributing to unscheduled absences. Many employers have found that Paid Time Off (PTO) policies are quite effective in controlling these unanticipated absences and rewarding employees who don't abuse sick leave. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Terminating Employees in California: A 21-Point Risk Assessment Checklist

Few would dispute that terminating an employee is one of the most unpleasant tasks. This 21-Point Risk Assessment Checklist covers the basic questions you should review before making a final termination decision and highlights the areas most likely to cause problems. It can also be a helpful training tool for managers and supervisors. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Who's Entitled to Overtime? How to Avoid Mistakes When Classifying California Employees

Many employers mistakenly believe that simply paying a salary or bestowing an impressive job title is enough to make an employee exempt from the overtime rules. In fact, only one thing really matters—the employee's duties. This report is designed to clear the confusion and guide you through this complicated area of the law. Includes helpful checklists you can use to determine who's exempt and who isn't. Plus, you'll find out which common pay practices to avoid, so you don't inadvertently destroy an employee's exempt status. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Leave for Injured and Disabled Workers: How to Navigate the Workers' Comp, ADA, and FMLA Maze in California

In this Employer Guide, we sort out the complex rules governing workers' compensation, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act—as well as the California disability and family leave laws. Includes step-by-step compliance flowcharts. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Defuse the Violence: Protect Your Workforce—And Your Company: An Exclusive Employer Guide from the Employer Resource Institute

DOWNLOAD: Domestic Partner Benefits Programs: A Practical Guide for California Employers

But if you're considering offering domestic partner benefits, some thorny matters can arise, such as eligibility questions, tax issues, confidentiality concerns, and compliance with new laws. This guide addresses the questions you'll most likely encounter when deciding whether to implement or revise a domestic partner benefits program. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Setting Up a Telecommuting Program - A Toolkit For Employers

Determining whether telecommuting arrangements will work for you and your employees requires consideration of a host of issues ranging from workers' compensation to liability insurance, from health and safety to employee productivity, from scheduling to wage and hour concerns. We've put together a comprehensive guide that addresses these areas and much more. You'll also find a practical sample policy, agreement and home office safety checklist that you can use to put a successful telecommuting program in place at your company. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Privacy Issues In The Workplace: Monitoring And Testing Employees In California

The rapid growth of technology in the workplace has created a host of new issues about how to balance the employer's right to control the workplace with the employee's right to privacy. Privacy issues in the workplace abound—from electronic monitoring and surveillance to alcohol and drug testing to polygraphs. And now more than ever, the limits of workplace privacy are being put to the test. How this struggle will play out remains to be seen. For now, employers must examine this balance and create rules for the workplace that protect their businesses while simultaneously protecting the rights of their employees. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Employer Response To Crisis And Emergency: An ERI Special Report

Many employers face a broad and complicated host of workplace issues in the post-9/11 era. These range from how to develop a disaster preparedness plan and set up resources to deal with employee stress, to pay and military leave issues, to political speech and harassment problems. This Special Report is designed to answer employer questions about legal obligations, provide practical tips that can help you keep your business running efficiently in these uncertain times, and offer helpful resources for more information. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: The Step-By-Step Sexual Harassment Prevention Guide for California Employers

In this Special Report, we pull together the latest rules and advice on what constitutes sexual harassment--and how you can prevent it. We also examine how to investigate harassment complaints, protect yourself from lawsuits by fired harassers, handle harassment charges involving vendors or customers, manage the delicate issue of workplace dating, and comply with recent California rules regarding sexual harassment training for managers. . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Parental Rights In The Workplace

This Special Report spells out the rules covering parents and expectant parents. It clarifies the sometimes confusing interplay between the various state and federal laws governing pregnancy and family leave, and includes tips for avoiding common mistakes. Striking the proper balance between work and family is a hot topic for both employees and employers . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Safety Incentive Programs: How to Motivate Employees and Cut Workers' Compensation Costs

In this special report, we'll look at what several companies have done to implement safety incentives successfully. We'll also give you tips on selecting and designing a program that's right for you. Since deregulation of the workers' compensation insurance industry on January 1 of 1995, insurers have begun competing for business . . . more

DOWNLOAD: Insurance For Employee Lawsuits: What You Need To Know Before You Buy

Because the price and terms of EPL policies can vary tremendously, it's important to take a careful look at which one will best suit your needs. This buyer's guide will point out what to look for when shopping for EPL coverage. More and more insurers are jumping on the bandwagon to offer employment practices liability (EPL) policies that will protect you if you're hit with a lawsuit for wrongful termination, sexual harassment or . . . more

DOWNLOAD: 50 Secrets for Preventing Employee Lawsuits--Plus 10 Tips for Saving Money and Aggravation If You're Sued

Our 50-point self-audit checklist pulls together—in an easy-to-follow format—all the important areas that should be reviewed at least annually by small and large employers alike. Customize the checklist to fit your own needs, and remember to perform an audit whenever your organization has undergone significant changes. Also, the Appendix includes practical sample forms and policies you can tailor to your organization's needs to help bring your company into compliance with the maze of legal requirements. . . . more