The Employer's Legal Handbook » (9th Edition)

Attorney Fred S. Steingold practices law in Ann Arbor, Michigan. An expert on small business law, he represents and advises many small businesses. He is the author of Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business and The Employer's Legal Handbook. His monthly column, "The Legal Advisor," is carried by trade publications across the country.

The plain-English resource every employer, manager and HR professional needs.

New laws affect every aspect of being an employer -- from interviewing and hiring, to handling employee benefits to firing.

The most complete guide to your legal rights and responsibilities, The Employer's Legal Handbook shows you how to comply with the most recent workplace laws and regulations, run a safe and fair workplace and avoid lawsuits.

The 9th edition updates the book's easy-to-use legal charts to provide your state's current employment laws. It also covers the latest developments, such as the Supreme Court's new definition of "retaliation," and why the number of claims against employers are going up.

Nation's Business

A useful summary of the law as it affects employers in areas ranging from hiring to benefits to workers' compensation.

1. Hiring
Legal Guidelines for Hiring Employees
Job Descriptions
Job Advertisements
Job Applications
Interviews
Testing
Investigations
Making a Job Offer
Rejecting Applicants
Tax Compliance
Immigration Law Requirements
New Hire Reporting Form

2. Personnel Practices
Employee Files
Employee Handbooks
Employee Performance Reviews
Disciplining Employees

3. Wages and Hours
Overtime and Minimum Wage Requirements
Equal Pay Requirements
How to Pay Employees
Calculating Work Hours
Record-Keeping Requirements
Child Labor Rules
Payroll Withholding
The Consequences of Bending the Rules

4. Employee Benefits
Health Care Coverage
Retirement Plans
Other Employee Benefits
Benefits for Domestic Partners

5. Taxes
Employer Identification Numbers
Federal Employment Taxes
Federal Self-Employment Taxes
Federal Tax Deductions for Salaries and Other Expenses
Independent Contractors
Statutory Employees

6. Family and Medical Leave
Who Is Covered
Reasons for Taking a Leave
Scheduling Leave
Temporary Transfer to Another Job
Substituting Paid Leave
Advance Notice of Leave
Certification
Health Benefits
Returning to Work
Related Laws
Enforcement

7. Health and Safety
The Occupational Safety and Health Act
Getting Help
State OSHA Laws
Hazardous Chemicals
Workers' Compensation
Disease Prevention
Tobacco Smoke
Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Repetitive Stress Disorder

8. Illegal Discrimination
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
Sexual Harassment
Age
Pregnancy
Citizenship
Gay and Lesbian Workers
Stateand Local Laws

9. Workers With Disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act
Businesses That Are Covered
Who Is Protected
Exceptions to Coverage
Providing Reasonable Accommodations
Workers With Emotional or Mental Impairments
Financial Assistance
Health and Safety Standards
Medical Exams
Enforcement

10. Termination
Wrongful Discharge Cases
Guarding Against Legal Claims
Guidelines for Firing Employees
Investigating Complaints Against Workers
Alternatives to Firing
The Firing Process
Heading Off Trouble
Final Paychecks
Continuing Health Insurance
Unemployment Compensation
Protecting Your Business Information
Handling Postemployment Inquiries

11. Employee Privacy
Monitoring Employees at Work
Searches
Employee Dating
Other Off-Duty Activities

12. Independent Contractors
Comparing Employees and Independent Contractors
The IRS Rules
Workers Automatically Classified as Employees
State Laws
The Risks of Misclassification
Hiring Independent Contractors

13. Unions
The National Labor Relations Act
Unionizing a Workplace
Employer Rights and Limitations
Employee Rights and Limitations
Making Unions Unnecessary

14. Lawyers and Legal Research
Getting Help From a Lawyer
Paying a Lawyer
Resolving Problems With Your Lawyer
Legal Research

Appendix
Labor Departments and Agencies
State Drug and Alcohol Testing Laws
State Laws on Employee Arrest and Conviction Records
State Laws on Employee Access to Personnel Records
State Minimum Wage Laws for Tipped and Regular Employees
State Meal and Rest Break Laws
State Health Insurance Continuation Laws
State Family and Medical Leave Laws
Right-to-Know Laws (Hazardous Chemicals)
Right-to-Know Laws (Hazardous Chemicals) (continued)
State Laws Prohibiting Discrimination in Employment
Agencies That Enforce Laws Prohibiting Discrimination in Employment
State Laws That Control Final Paychecks

Index