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Nonprofit Layoffs and Furloughs: Do Them Right
Dear Rita: It looks like we're going to have to lay some people off in the next couple of months. But the management team is also considering furloughs, a week's shutdown, and other choices. The decision about what to do won't be made by us …
Laid Off From a Nonprofit: Me!
A First Person Nonprofit story:Nearly two months ago, I joined the ranks of laid-off Americans. It almost makes me feel Patriotic, somehow Special, to be counted among the group considered most newsworthy, 24/7. The news is filled with stories about us …
Sample Layoff Letter
It’s a good idea to seek advice from a professional due to the varying nature of the layoff situations. If you are considering laying off an employee who is on a protected leave, be sure to consult a labor law professional. This is a sample letter whic …
Nonprofit Email Sign-Offs
Dozens of Blue Avocado readers gave our writer Keiko Rosenstiel a lot to work with: After hearing from so many Blue Avocado readers what is the right way to sign off on a nonprofit email, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is none! It’s a pe …
A Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Policy for Nonprofits
While there is no one model drug and alcohol free workplace program that is right for all workplaces, there are standard elements of such a program that should be included at your agency. Effective programs typically contain the following elements: …
Can an Employee Come and Go Using Family or Medical Leave?
Dear Rita,One of our exempt employees — a children’s therapist — is keeping me up nights by taking unscheduled and intermittent leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). We've been able to plan schedules when other emplo …
Gas Rates, Volunteers, and Justice: Reader OpEd
Many people don’t realize that on their personal tax returns volunteers can deduct mileage expenses incurred as part of volunteering. For example, if a volunteer drives 30 miles to volunteer at an art school or drive a patient to chemotherapy, the …
Board Cafe: Meaningful Acts of Appreciation for Boards and Staff – 7 Do’s and 2 Don’t’s
"We [board members] do this huge amount of work, and we're volunteers, but the staff never seems to have any response but criticism for us not doing more!""I'm the executive director, and the board just seems to focus on what we …
What Should We Do About an Employee’s Outrageous Blog?
Dear Rita, An employee googled our nonprofit's name and came across a coworker's blog. The blog contains some outrageous material, including some unflattering comments about working at our organization. What can our nonprofit do? — Blog-Burned …
