Stop Your Harassing Boss With Your Employee Handbook

The Employee Handbook – Know the Rules and Your Rights

By: Jenn S.

When you first went to work for your employer, it is likely that you received an employee handbook, often referred to as an employee manual or a policy and procedure manual. If you did what you were supposed to do, you read it and then signed a document stating that you read and fully understood the rules and policies stated within. Though such “rule books” often seem like mindless paperwork you can easily plow through during orientation and then forget, they are much, much more than that. Instead of thinking of the employee handbook as all of the things that you can’t do or rules that restrict you, also think of it as what your employer has to so do for you.

Key Employee Policies:  So what are the most important policies and procedures to focus on? Which policies are most often utilized by employers to get rid of employees? Which policies should you make yourself highly aware of in order to keep your job? Frankly, you should carefully read the entire manual from cover to cover and then keep it somewhere where you can easily refer to it in the future. However, if you are not big into reading or your employer’s manual happens to fill numerous binders, try to at least familiarize yourself with the following key policies:

Standards of Conduct: Kind of a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many people are unaware of the multitude of acts or behaviors that can land you on your employer’s hit list. Most policies regarding standards of conduct give a long laundry list of offenses, from poor performance on the job to violence or drugs in the workplace. The standards of conduct are a good place to start to determine exactly what is unacceptable in your workplace so that you can avoid crossing the line right from the start.

Anti-Harassment / Discrimination Policy: This policy is important for several reasons. One, you should know how to use it in case you are a victim of discrimination or harassment or you witness it happening to a coworker. More importantly, you should determine exactly what your employer is promising to do for you in the event that you make a complaint of discrimination or harassment and then hold the employer to it. If the employer fails to follow its policies, you may very well have a valid legal claim. Finally, you should make yourself aware of exactly what constitutes discriminatory or harassing acts so that you can avoid violating the policy yourself or having a complaint filed against you.

Disciplinary Policy / Progressive Discipline Policy: Again, here is a policy that you not only need to know but must hold your employer accountable to following, should you be targeted for disciplinary action. Determine what the progressive “steps” are for each level of discipline and what acts or behaviors fall under each step. For example, repetitive violations of the attendance policy may first warrant a verbal warning, then a written warning, and then ultimately termination. However, a serious offense, such as insubordination or theft may warrant immediate dismissal. Know your rights under this policy and make sure that your employer is applying it fairly and consistently amongst all workers. Inconsistent application of this policy could be grounds for legal action.

Medical Leave and Other Kinds of Leave: At the beginning of your employment, you should make yourself aware of how your employer handles requests for time off. Most employers are bound by laws that require them to provide you time off for certain medical conditions or the medical conditions of particular family members but beyond such required leave, you should also know how any paid vacation or sick leave is earned and how to request such time off. A handbook will usually also cover other types of leaves such as jury duty or witness leave, bereavement leave, and military leave, amongst many. Educate yourself up front on the leave issue so that you know what you can expect from your employer should the need for a leave arise.

Fraternization & Employee Dating Policy: As I have made very clear in previous articles, dating in the workplace is never a good idea, but some employers actually have policies against it. The most dangerous dating relationship (and usually the one that will violate a no fraternization policy) is one between a supervisor and a subordinate. Such a situation not only creates tension and drama in the workplace but it also creates the possibility of legal liability for the employer and the individual supervisor, should the subordinate decide to file a harassment complaint. But even a relationship between coworkers can violate an employer’s policy so be mindful of the rules and if you happen to find love at work, do your best to keep it under wraps and outside of the workplace.

Non-Solicitation / Distribution Policy: Know your employer’s policy regarding solicitation. Most employers do not allow any sort of solicitation or distribution of literature in the workplace, on work time. Some employers might allow it in the break room, when you are off of company time but generally speaking, it is probably best to leave the Mary Kay and Pampered Chef brochures at home or in the car. If you want to give something to your coworkers, do it after work, off the premises.

Confidential Information Policy: Know what you can and cannot talk about, both inside and outside the workplace. Your job may require that you handle sensitive, confidential information and in such cases, employers often have employees sign a separate confidentiality agreement. But for those in less sensitive positions, you might still run afoul of a confidential information policy, especially if the policy includes the discussion of salary information (who doesn’t like to complain to coworkers about their pay?) or other internal information that should not be shared outside the workplace. This is a policy to know and strictly follow, as violations of it often lead directly to termination.

By educating yourself about your employer’s policies and procedures, you will be much more savvy about what your employer expects from you, as well as what you can expect from your employer.

Is Time Off On FMLA Really Time Off? (Or, do you have to maintain your full-time work load while working a reduced-time schedule?)

Case: Lewis v. School District #70 (April 17, 2008)

A federal court case established for the first time that your employer can NOT expect you to maintain a full time work load when you are off work under the FMLA. The Federal Court of Appeals for the 7^th Circuit held that employees using their FMLA rights to be away from work cannot be held to the same requirements as full-time employees who are at work all day. Your company violates federal law if it tries to discipline or fire an employee who is on FMLA leave because he or she is isn’t producing as much work as the employees who are not on leave.

A Good Worker Must Live Through Bad Times

The worker in this new case was Debra Lewis. Debra began working for Illinois School District #70 in September of 1997 as a bookkeeper and treasurer. For seven years she received good reviews and everyone agreed she performed her job well. Until 2004. When she started using FMLA leave. That changed everything.

In 2004 both of Debra’s parents became terminally ill. A dutiful daughter, Debra tried to care for her father at home. And it was at home, in May of that year, that he died. At the end of that same month Debra’s mother came home from the hospital. Debra’s mother then needed constant care from Debra.

As a result of all of this, Debra often missed work. Her immediate supervisor at the school district, Dr. Hawkins, gave Debra permission take this time off work in order to care for her parents. During the School District’s 2004 fiscal year, Debra missed 72.5 days of work out of a total of 242.

The Boss Has an Attitude Change Toward His Employee

When she was out Dr. Hawkins encouraged Debra to take her work home get it done whenever she could, including on evenings or weekends. She completed much of her work in this way. Dr. Hawkins complained that Debra’s “flex-time” schedule was forcing other employees to alter their schedules to cover for her. Dr. Hawkins also did not like that Debra was not available to answer questions during regular work hours.

The school board wanted to fire Debra for poor performance. Dr Hawkins, to his credit, expressed fear of FMLA liability. So instead firing her, Hawkins offered Debra 12 weeks of unpaid intermittent FMLA leave. Debra accepted.

Even though Debra was on unpaid intermittent leave, Dr. Hawkins still expected her to perform all of her regular work duties. The school board didn’t hire a part-timer or ask co-workers lend a hand. Debra worked nights and weekends to catch up with her work, but it was all unpaid.

The Conflict Takes a “Ludicrous” Turn For the Worse

The school board, at tape recorded meetings, said it wanted to fire Debra and called the FMLA “ludicrous” and a “fiasco.” The board told Dr Hawkins to build a case against her based on her “poor performance” so she could be terminated. Eventually, Debra was given a choice: resign or take a demotion and salary cut based on her poor performance.

Just like I recommend in Work Laws Exposed, Debra kept her job and then went on the offensive. She accepted the demotion offered by Dr. Hawkins, but then immediately filed an FMLA lawsuit. The school district argued that it had a legitimate non-FMLA reason to fire her: poor performance

The Conflict in Court: Who Won?

The first court said that Debra could be held to the same standards as regular full time employees. The Court of Appeals, however, reversed the lower court. The Court of Appeals stated that the School District could not have Debra working and being paid for a part time schedule (on FMLA leave), but require Debra to produce a full time amount of work. With this double standard the School District wasn’t really giving Debra FMLA leave at all. In fact, the District merely allowed her to do some work from home, but reduced her pay for the privilege.

That is not what the FMLA requires. The FMLA does allow an employer to not pay an employee for the periods the employee is out on medical leave. But if the employee is off work on unpaid leave, the employee must truly be relieved of their duties.

Undercover Lawyer’s Tips To Take Away:

1. Your employer must reduce the amount of work you are required to complete in proportion to the amount of time you are away from work when you use FMLA leave.

2. If your employer gripes and complains about the FMLA, immediately write down their exact remarks; then, sign and date your notes. Courts do not like employers who talk negatively about the law.

3. Your employer should arrange coverage for the work you are missing (from another employee or a temp employee); if no coverage is arranged, you may have an FMLA retaliation claim just like Debra Lewis did.