Basic Tools (1b): Document Exceptions

Some companies have written policies and/or a handbook that describe employee transactions, compensation and benefits. If you do not, then the history and pattern of such practices become the established "policies."

Many employers make exceptions to either of the above for compassionate reasons or to retain valuable employees. While this resolves a short term issue, exceptions invariably grow into gnarly, unavoidable PRECEDENTS.

For example, your key Engineer requests an advance of paid vacation time. He has five days accrued and asks for an additional five in advance. You feel it is a good idea to grant the request to keep the Engineer happy. Immediately DOCUMENT your reasons for the decision, such as his request was to enable a visit to a sick relative offshore.

Three weeks later, a difficult to manage Clerk makes the same request and you think "no way." Her request was based on her simply wanting more paid time off than she had accrued. Again, DOCUMENT your decision as based on a non-compelling request for extra time off.

Keeping these kind of notes will be invaluable if the latter employee ever makes a claim of discrimination in not receiving the advanced paid vacation.

Tomorrow we will discuss precedents of all kinds and how they affect your ability to manage your business.

NOTE: In both example cases above, an option is to grant the extra time off as unpaid time off.

Lance