DelfinoHR Quick Tips: HR Myths That Won't Die

Sep 1

1 min read

There are a lot of "rules" about employees that get passed around as fact.

The problem? Some of them simply aren't true.

Here are five common HR myths I hear:

❌ "You have to give three warnings before you can fire someone."

Not necessarily. Disciplinary processes depend on your policies, circumstances, and applicable law.

❌ "If an employee is salaried, you can make them work unlimited hours."

Not necessarily. Being paid a salary does not automatically mean an employee is exempt from overtime requirements.

❌ "Employees have to sign a write-up for it to be valid."

An employee's refusal to sign doesn't necessarily mean the employer can't document the issue. The employer should document the refusal appropriately.

❌ "If it's not in the employee handbook, you can't enforce it."

Not necessarily. But policies and expectations should be communicated clearly and applied consistently.

❌ "HR is only necessary when there's a problem."

Actually, good HR can help prevent many problems before they happen.

Don't make an employment decision based on something you heard from another employer—or something that "everyone knows."

Employment requirements can depend on the situation, the employer, the employee, and applicable federal or state law.

Before making a difficult employee decision, ask:

"Do I know this is actually a requirement—or am I assuming it is?"

That's often the right time to get professional HR guidance.

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