Anatomy of a Lawsuit Not ‘As Seen on TV’
Some of you have been sued, and some of you have not. For employers new to the litigation arena, one of the most common questions I’m asked is, “What happens next?”
Knowing the Laws Protecting Military Service Members
If you have ever employed or thought about employing a veteran or member of the military, this article is for you. As armed conflicts continue around the world, every employer can expect to encounter employees who have served, are serving or will serve in a branch of the United States Armed Forces.
How to Save Your Company Money
While every company would prefer to not get sued, chances are it will happen. So, if you’re interested in learning about some common issues with fairly simple solutions that could save your company thousands (or millions) of dollars if you are sued, please, read on.
Monitoring Employees
Protect your business interests, while maintaining workplace privacy.
Preventive Healthcare for Your Company
I suppose some people really enjoy going to the doctor. For most of us, however, being poked and prodded is not high on our to-do list. And yet we go anyway – sometimes even when we are not yet sick! Why? Because we realize there is value in preventive care and in diagnosing an infection before it
$47,476 is the New $23,660
On Dec. 1, 2016, about 4.2 million exempt employees in the United States will become non-exempt. And some of those employees probably work for you. The History of the Fair Labor Standards Act Enacted in 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mandates things like a federal minimum wage and requires overtime pay for all
FMLA: Not a Radio Station
Lowe’s recently agreed to pay $8.6 million to settle an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit that alleged the home improvement company fired a class of workers because their disability-related medical leave surpassed the company’s 180- or 240-day maximum leave policy. If that settlement strikes fear into your heart, read on. Generally speaking, two statutes are
What Employers of LGBT Employees Need to Know
The Terminology In order to understand the issues, we first need to define the terms. According to the American Psychological Association, sex is defined as one’s biological status as either male or female, which is primarily associated with physical attributes. Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society
Problem Employees
Managing difficult employees and holding them accountable in a litigation-happy environment often feels akin to walking a tightrope while wearing a blindfold. And while not every under-performing or disgruntled employee will take legal action, companies can discourage litigation by instituting and consistently following good discipline and performance policies. Two important management tools for handling challenging
The Payday Polka
Payday. While it is music to an employee’s ears, payday presents logistical and legal challenges for your company. One of the chief challenges is ensuring your employees are paid properly under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Why does FLSA matter to you? Money. Improperly paying employees opens you up to potentially massive liability from a
Internal Investigations
The first time you learn of an employee’s complaint probably isn’t the day your company is served with a lawsuit. In most cases, the alleged victim complains to the company first. While an initial internal complaint provides an opportunity to solve the problem and limit your legal exposure, all too often an employer drops the
Walking the Social Media Tightrope
In today’s digital workplace, few issues cause more confusion than social media. Numerous laws are relevant to social media, ranging from Title VII to the Fair Credit Reporting Act to state-specific laws barring requests for applicants’ personal passwords. However, employers can navigate the social media minefield by identifying and addressing the risks. Screening of Applicants
