Roundup: Discrimination and hostile work environment; Employment protections for addiction; Nondisparagement clauses and layoffs; Monitoring employees; Posting pay ranges
Salary.com Compensation and Pay Equity Law Review
Welcome to Salary.com's Compensation and Pay Equity Law Review.
Our editor, employment lawyer Heather Bussing, is tracking legislation, cases, and analysis to give you the latest critical HR topics. She and Kent Plunkett, CEO of Salary.com, also have a new book out on Pay Equity, Get Pay Right: How to Achieve Pay Equity that Works !
This week we're answering the questions:
- Can a single incident be enough to create a hostile work environment?
- What workplace protections are there for people struggling with addiction?
- What should you do about former employees badmouthing the company?
- Why is it so terrible to tell someone to smile?
- How do we figure out realistic pay ranges for job postings?
Some Things You Cannot Say at Work
Working Under the Influence
How to Make Layoffs Worse
I'm not a fan of nondisparagement clauses in severance agreements. They don't really stop anyone from saying anything to anybody. And even if an ex-employee posts something unflattering on social media, you don't ever want to actually enforce a nondisparagement clause. What's worse than someone badmouthing the company on social? A lawsuit.
You Should Smile More
An AI tool is being used to encourage customer service employees in Japan to smile more. Please don't try that in the US.
How to Post the Pay
Here's how to think about pay ranges and posting pay and benefits for pay transparency laws.