Editor's note

Businesses spend millions on sexual harassment training and often don’t see the desired results. Could virtual reality provide employees with the empathy needed to mend the problem? 
 

Sexual harassment training is a great fit for virtual courses. While online training may seem overwhelming, it’s often easier to plan and execute than live courses. Read this month’s cover article Virtual Sexual Harassment Training: Getting Started by Kamy Anderson, to understand how you can create virtual sexual harassment training courses for your employees. 
 
Sexual harassment can harm anyone, irrespective of their gender. As per a recent study by Stop Street Harassment (SSH), 81% of women and 43% of men had experienced some sort of sexual harassment during their lives. Companies need open, clear communication about unacceptable and illegal behaviors at workplaces. Courtney Harrison, in her article Ending Sexual Harassment In The Workplace, shares key strategies for companies to shift thoughts and behavior and create safe environments for everyone. 
 
It is almost the end of the summer. And, for millions of families, it signals the return to school for children in preschool through college. This means your employees will likely need to take a few hours out of their workday occasionally to participate in their children’s education. Parents’ fall calendars are often packed with school events, parent-teacher conferences, and/or parent meetings. So, what does the law say on parents’ rights to take time away from work to attend to school matters? Read Rachel Sobel’s article, Back To School Time Off Tips, to know for yourself. 

Do you have sick leave and attendance policies? I hope so. Do you provide Paid Time Off (PTO)? Again, I hope so. Are you allowed to limit how much time off an employee takes or uses? Yes, within reasonable limits, and depending on whether any federal, state, or local laws have something to say on the matter. What happens when an employee violates your policies? Can you discipline the employee? Janette Levey Frisch, in her article Why American Airlines’ Discipline Of Employees Taking Sick Leave Didn’t Fly, emphasizes the importance of reviewing and updating your paid sick leave policies.  

This is not all! This month’s issue of HR Legal & Compliance Excellence is packed with top trending topics in the legal and compliance arena, and infused with information on new policies and laws to arm you and your employees to stay compliant and safe.