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Senate Finance Committee Maps Routes to Health Care Reform

Health care industry leaders — including some who opposed the Clinton administration’s 1993 health care reform efforts — are now pledging to rein in the rate at which costs increase. President Barack Obama did a one-hour interview and town-hall style discussion about health care reform on prime time network TV this week. Lawmakers promise quick […]

Obama, DHS 2010 Budgets Hint at Immigration Priorities

by Jesse Goldstein The White House and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released their proposed budgets for fiscal year (FY) 2010. Both budgets contain discussions of immigration-related priorities, offering a glimpse of what the new administration may choose to pursue this year. Even though he is obviously facing several domestic economic challenges, […]

Top CEOs Show Some Reason for Optimism

On June 23, the Business Roundtable released its Second Quarter 2009 CEO Economic Outlook Survey and there is reason for some optimism. While it’s not all blue skies and sunshine, it does appear that the storm clouds may be clearing. Good news is rare these days so I thought the survey was worthy of some […]

‘Free Choice Act’ Is Deceptive Labeling, Lawyer Says

Attorney Phillip Russell, a speaker at the upcoming National Employment Law Update conference, says the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is laden with pitfalls for employers and employees alike. Heading toward passage? While many experts predict that the EFCA will pass Congress and become law—even in modified form—some are deriding the Act as a case […]

Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) Introduced in Congress

U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 (ENDA) June 24 in the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed, ENDA would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is very similar to existing antidiscrimination laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights […]

Small Favors

Thank goodness for small favors!  With The Office on summer break, we didn’t have to face Thursday night with trepidation, fearing that Michael would, in his affable way, fling impertinent comments about the Iranian election crisis around for all to hear. We are probably not the only ones breathing a sigh of relief either. After […]

Name, Rank, Serial Number … and How Much Else?

Yesterday’s Advisor offered tips about giving references. Today’s we look at tips for handling other types of requests, such as subpoenas and financial data, again courtesy of BLR’s SmartPolicies program. Telephone Requests What should supervisors do if they receive a telephone call requesting information on an existing or former employee? Policies should address what the […]

EEOC Files Sexual Harassment Case Against Oregon Agriculture Employers

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently filed its third sexual harassment case in less than a year against Oregon agricultural employers. The most recent suit charges that sexual harassment and retaliation occurred at Willamette Tree Wholesale, a retail nursery with 140 acres of farmland and a garden supply store in Molalla, Oregon, where Latina […]

‘Victory’ in Court Is Always a Little Bitter

In employment law cases, “Victory in court is always a little bitter when the costs of achieving it are factored in,” says attorney Russell Adler. He was referring in particular to the potential dangers of giving references. Adler, who practices labor and employment law at WolfBlock, made his remarks on workforce.com. His advice: “Stay out […]

Another Strike Against Wal-Mart in Quebec: Arbitrator Imposes Collective Agreement

For the last five years, two Wal-Mart big-box stores in Quebec have been the subject of certification applications filed by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). The first store to be unionized was located in the town of Jonquière. Wal-Mart decided to close down that operation in 2005 immediately after the union applied […]