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1. FEATURE STORY:
PLEASE, DON’T COME INTO WORK!

While there have been no known cases of the bird flu in this country thus far, the attention paid to a possible pandemic has employers worried about everything from the common cold to more serious bugs. That's why more and more companies are encouraging sick employees to stay in bed.

According to a CCH survey, nearly 50% of employers surveyed believe that employees showing up to work when they're sick is a real problem that needs to be addressed. That's a more than 20% jump over last year.

One of the most common employer remedies is to send sick employees homes; 62% of those surveyed traveled this route. Sending sick employees home might be a good way to prevent germs from further spreading, but it doesn't keep those germs from entering the work environment in the first place.

So what's an employer to do? Simple: Lead by example and don't give employees a reason to regret calling out sick.

If employers want employees to stay home when they're sick, executives, managers, and supervisors must do the same. Employees take their cues from higher-ups. If higher-ups come to work sick, employees are apt to believe calling out sick will be viewed as a sign of weakness, which could hurt them in their ascent up the career ladder.

Another reason employees hesitate to call out sick is because they feel pressured to come into work. A survey by Caravan Opinion Research found that 40% of surveyed employees felt pressured to come into work despite their illness.

Take the pressure off employees by not giving them too hard of a time when they call out sick (unless you suspect they're faking it). Investigate whether it's possible for another worker, or several workers, to pick up the slack while the employee recuperates. That way, the employee can concentrate on getting better and not on how much work awaits his/her return.

Final note: This will be the last issue of Employment Law Today for 2005. The Editors would like to wish you a terrific holiday season. May 2006 be better (and healthier!) still.

DEFAMATION DANGERS: MIND YOUR MEMOS AND OTHER INTERNAL DOCS

What's said in the office stays in the office, right? Not necessarily. Communications between you and other managers or HR may be meant for internal eyes and ears only. But...View the full story on our website.

FREE REPORT OF THE MONTH:

Check out the new Free Report, "Performance Appraisal Training," which will help you to help your managers get positive results from their PA sessions — and avoid legal issues in the process — by providing guidance on setting up PA training, conducting and documenting performance appraisals, dispensing criticism, and reviewing the review process.

Kick back, relax, and take a few minutes to check out the HR Soapbox, "Excuses...Seems Everyone's Got One, But Are Any Legit?”, in which an editor examines the tall tales employees tell to explain their absence from work.