EMPLOYMENT
Equal Employment
It is the established policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons and to administer all aspects and conditions of employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, severe/morbid obesity, medical condition, military or veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, alienage or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. The Company takes allegations of discrimination, intimidation, harassment and retaliation very seriously and will promptly conduct an investigation when warranted.
Equal employment opportunity includes, but is not limited to, employment, training, promotion, demotion, transfer, leaves of absence and termination.
Background Checks
Prior to making an offer of employment, the Company may conduct a job-related background check. A comprehensive background check may consist of prior employment verification, professional reference checks, education confirmation and/or criminal record and credit checks. Third-party services may be hired to perform these checks.
At-Will Notice
Employees are not hired for any definite or specified period of time even though employee wages are paid regularly. Employees are at-will with the Company and their employment can be terminated at any time, with or without cause and with or without prior notice. Company policy requires all employees to be hired at-will and this policy cannot be changed by any oral modifications. There have been no implied or verbal agreements or promises to an employee that they will be discharged only under certain circumstances or after certain procedures are followed. There is no implied employment contract created by this Handbook or any other Company document or written or verbal statement or policy.
Anniversary Date/Seniority
The employee’s date of hire is their official employment anniversary date. Seniority is the length of continuous service commencing on the date of hire at the Company. Should employees leave the Company’s employment and subsequently be rehired, previously accrued seniority will be forfeited. Seniority will commence on the date of rehire. Seniority does not accrue during leaves of absence without pay or leaves of absence that exceed thirty (30) calendar days, except for paid vacation/personal time.
Immigration Law Compliance
All individuals hired by the Company will be required to establish and certify their identity and right to work in the United States. Each individual employed by the Company will be required to produce, within one (1) day, proof of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Each individual hired by the Company will be required to certify on the appropriate Form I-9 their identity and right to work in the United States.
Introductory Period
The employee’s first ninety (90) days of employment with the Company are considered an introductory period. This introductory period will be a time for getting to know fellow employees, managers and the tasks involved in the position, as well as becoming familiar with the Company’s products and services. The supervisor or manager will work closely with each employee to help them understand the needs and processes of their job.
This introductory period is a try-out time for the employee and the Company. During this introductory period, the Company will evaluate employees’ suitability for employment, and employees can evaluate the Company as well. At any time during this first ninety (90) days, employees may resign. If, during this period, employee work habits, attitude, attendance, performance or other relevant factors do not measure up to our standards, the Company may release employment.
At the end of the introductory period, the supervisor or manager will discuss each employee’s job performance with them. During the course of the discussion, employees are encouraged to give their comments and ideas as well.
Please understand that completion of the introductory period does not guarantee continued employment for any specified period of time, nor does it require that an employee be discharged only for cause. Please also understand that completion of the introductory period does not imply that employees now have a contract of employment with the Company, other than at-will. Completion of the introductory period does not alter the at-will employment relationship.
A former employee who has been rehired after a separation from the Company of more than one year is considered an introductory employee during their first ninety (90) days following rehire.
Employment Classifications
The Company has established the following Employee Classifications for compensation and benefit purposes only. An employee’s supervisor or manager will inform the employee of their classification, status, and responsibilities at the time of hire, rehire, promotion or at any time a change in status occurs. These classifications do not alter the employment at-will status.
Regular Full-Time Employee
An employee who is scheduled to work no less than 100% of the scheduled work hours in a work week on a fixed work schedule (not less than 40 hours). The employee may be exempt or non-exempt and is eligible for all employment benefits offered by the Company.
Regular Part-Time Employee
An employee who is scheduled to work less than 40 hours in a workweek.
Temporary Employee
An employee who is scheduled to work on a specific need of the Company. The employee will not receive any benefits unless specifically authorized in writing. The employee is non-exempt and is compensated on an hourly basis.
Exempt
Employees whose positions meet specific tests established by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and applicable state law and who are exempt from overtime pay requirements. The basic premise of exempt status is that the exempt employee is to work the hours required to meet their work responsibilities.
Non-Exempt
Employees whose positions do not meet FLSA and state exemption tests and who are paid a multiple of their regular rate of pay for overtime hours worked.
Personnel Records
The Company will maintain various employment files while individuals remain an employee of the Company. Examples of these files are: employee personnel files, attendance files, I-9 file and files for medical purposes. If any changes with respect to personal information, such as a change in home address and telephone number or a change of name occur, employees are required to notify their supervisor or manager so the appropriate updates can be made to the files. The Company will take reasonable precautions to protect employee files and employee personally identifiable information in its records.
Employee files have restricted access. Employees, their supervisor or manager, or their designated agents, may have access to those personnel files. In the event that an employee wishes to review their personnel file, they must do so in the presence of a supervisor or manager. Employees may review their personnel file by making a written request to their supervisor or manager. The written request will become a permanent part of the personnel file.
Employee References
The Company makes strict provision regarding information provided to people outside the Company for current and former employees. This information is restricted to the employment dates and positions held in the Company for that person. This is done to protect the Company and its employees. This information will only be released by authorized management.
Job Vacancies/Postings/Transfers
It is the policy of the Company to promote qualified individuals from within rather than to select persons from outside the organization to fill vacancies in established positions or to fill newly created positions.
When job openings occur, the Company will, at its discretion, post those openings in order to provide Company employees the opportunity to submit their applications.
Management reserves its right to place employees where, and in whatever jobs it deems necessary. All job transfers, job changes, reassignments, promotions or lateral transfers are at the discretion of the Company.
Employment of Relatives
The Company does not have a general prohibition against hiring relatives. However, a few restrictions have been established to help prevent problems of harassment, safety, security, supervision and morale.
Close family members generally may not be hired or transferred into positions where they have access to sensitive information regarding a close family member, or if there is an actual or apparent conflict of interest (including but not limited to establishing an immediate supervisor/employee relationship).
These restrictions apply to the following degrees of relationships, whether established by blood, marriage, or other legal action: spouse, domestic partner (including parties to a civil union), child, step-child, parent, step-parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, parent-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, cousin, or relations of the same degree of a domestic partner. This policy also applies to romantic relationships.
If marriage or other action creates these kinds of relationships, one of the employees affected must give up that position by the end of the fiscal year or within six months from the date the relationship was established (whichever is the greater period). The employees will be permitted to determine which of them will resign. If the employees cannot make a decision, the Company will decide who will remain in the position. At the sole discretion of the Company, either or both of the employees may be allowed to transfer to other positions within the Company.