HR Basics

onboarding

Dec 6, 2025

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8 min read

Probation Periods Aren't a Free Pass

What Employers Must Document (and Prove) During the First 90 Days

Lee Jacobs

employee documentation

The Exit File: What to Do (and Document) When an Employee Leaves Post

Nov 17, 2025

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11 min read

The Exit File: What to Do (and Document) When an Employee Leaves Post

Your final steps should protect your business, not haunt you in court.

Lee Jacobs

employee documentation

Ghosted by Your Employee? How to Handle No-Shows, Verbal Quits, and Job Abandonment

Nov 3, 2025

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14 min read

Ghosted by Your Employee? How to Handle No-Shows, Verbal Quits, and Job Abandonment

When an employee disappears—or walks out with no notice—here's what to document and what to do next.

Lee Jacobs

onboarding

Remote Work Wage Risks: Multi-State Compliance Nightmares

Oct 20, 2025

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17 min read

Remote Work Wage Risks: Multi-State Compliance Nightmares

When Your NYC Employee Moves to Florida, You Don't Just Save on Office Space. You Inherit Five Different Compliance Nightmares.

Lee Jacobs

employee documentation

Investigation Protocol: The First 48 Hours

Sep 22, 2025

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21 min read

Investigation Protocol: The First 48 Hours

When Employee Complaints Trigger Your Legal Countdown: Here's How to Handle Those Critical First 48 Hours

Lee Jacobs

employee documentation

Complaint Containment: How to Handle Employee Concerns Without Creating Legal Risk

Sep 9, 2025

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12 min read

Complaint Containment: How to Handle Employee Concerns Without Creating Legal Risk

Employees don't need to be right to sue—just mistreated after raising concerns. Here's how to handle complaints the right way and avoid retaliation claims that cost big.

Lee Jacobs

employee documentation

Performance Anxiety: Undocumented Coaching

Sep 2, 2025

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7 min read

Performance Anxiety: Undocumented Coaching

When good employees go bad—slowly—and you have no paper trail.

Lee Jacobs

employee documentation

Personnel Files: What Goes In (and What Stays Out)

Aug 25, 2025

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9 min read

Personnel Files: What Goes In (and What Stays Out)

A practical guide to managing employee records the right way—from onboarding to termination.

Lee Jacobs

employee documentation

Email Isn't Enough: Why Verbal and Digital Feedback Still Needs to Be Documented

Aug 18, 2025

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7 min read

Email Isn't Enough: Why Verbal and Digital Feedback Still Needs to Be Documented

Coaching by conversation is good—but without documentation, it might as well have never happened.

Lee Jacobs

compliance risks

Discipline Disasters: What Happens When You Skip the Paper Trail

Aug 11, 2025

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8 min read

Discipline Disasters: What Happens When You Skip the Paper Trail

How informal discipline, missing notes, or untrained managers can turn a simple issue into a six-figure lawsuit.

Lee Jacobs

onboarding

Signs of the Times: What Workplace Posters You Need—and Why They Matter

Jun 11, 2025

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6 min read

Signs of the Times: What Workplace Posters You Need—and Why They Matter

Failure to post required labor law notices could cost your business more than just a fine.

Lee Jacobs

wage & hour

Clocked Out of Overtime? Understanding Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Status

Jun 9, 2025

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9 min read

Clocked Out of Overtime? Understanding Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Status

Why Misclassification Is a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen

Lee Jacobs

compliance risks

Leave It Alone: Avoiding FMLA Retaliation Missteps

Jun 9, 2025

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4 min read

Leave It Alone: Avoiding FMLA Retaliation Missteps

Protect your business from costly retaliation claims by understanding how to respond lawfully to FMLA leave

Lee Jacobs

employee documentation

The Art of Consideration: What Are You Really Paying For?

Jun 9, 2025

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7 min read

The Art of Consideration: What Are You Really Paying For?

A properly drafted severance agreement helps employers meet their obligations while avoiding lawsuits, audits, or future uncertainty.

Lee Jacobs