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Ask Rita: We Have Decided on an In-House Investigation—Now, How Do We Do It?
Last month, we discussed the factors to consider in making the decision to conduct a workplace investigation in-house, or to retain an outside investigator. If you decide that an in-house investigation is appropriate, this article is for you. Approachi …
Ask Rita: Workplace Discrimination Investigations–Do We Need to Hire an External Professional?
Dear Rita, We are a social service nonprofit that has, at this point, 35 employees. Until now, we have had a very good—some might say remarkable—history of maintaining good employee relations, with no complaints for discrimination or harassment in the …
Re-Opening After Covid-19: What Nonprofits Need to Know about Reasonable Accommodation of Employees with Disabilities
Although the number of Covid-19 cases varies throughout the United States, nonprofit leaders are undoubtedly eager to re-open organizations and get back to business. While many continue to allow some staff to work remotely, others choose to or must hav …
Ask Rita: We Can Require Employees to Receive the Covid-19 Vaccine—But Should We?
Dear Rita, Our nonprofit has several employees who provide a variety of direct services personally to our clients, in our offices as well as other locations. We have taken great measures since the pandemic struck to protect both our clients and our emp …
Ask Rita: I’m Confused Over EXEMPT vs. NONEXEMPT and SALARIED vs. HOURLY Employees
Dear Rita: I’ve recently started a new position in my nonprofit’s HR department. I’ve been instructed that my duties will involve classifying employees as exempt or nonexempt. In my experience in other HR departments, I always classified employees as e …
Ask Rita: How Does the Americans with Disabilities Act Impact Our Efforts to Keep Employees Safe During the Covid-19 Pandemic?
Dear Rita: We operate a nonprofit social services agency. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have taken what we believe to be very aggressive steps to protect our nonprofit’s clients and employees. These efforts include taking the body temperatur …
Hiring People with Disabilities Is Not a Charity: Here’s Why and How to Stop Paying Subminimum Wage
In the age of Covid-19, the workplace is more flexible than employers thought possible. It’s time to apply the same innovations to employees with disabilities. Minimum wage exemptions date from 1938, a time when people with disabilities did not have a …
Ask Rita: For What Work-Related Expenses Must I Reimburse Remote Employees?
Dear Rita: In light of the Covid-19 pandemic orders in our state to stay at home, we have made the transition to our employees working remotely from their homes. This effort has been fairly successful despite the fact that we did not have a formal poli …
The Truth, Even When Unpleasant, Can Always Be Explained: Nonprofit Pointers for Conduct in Court
In art, fiction may be the lie that reveals the truth, but in the courtroom, all that fiction ever reveals is culpability. And it never ends well. More than once in the past months, I’ve faced fiction in the courtroom. An employee of a nonprofit client …
IRS Tax Form 990 [Deadline Extended]: How to File It, When to File It, and Why It’s So Important
Special Covid-19 note: The IRS is giving a break this year to individuals and businesses. The IRS states in Relief Notice 2020-23 that filing due dates, including extensions, which were due after April 1st but before July 15th, can be postponed until J …
