Author: Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

Tube Tops, Tattoos, and Piercings: Where Is Your Dress Code?

Here comes summer and the worst time of the year for dress code violations. Today’s Advisor takes a look at what you can and can’t do with dress code and appearance policies, courtesy of HR.BLR.com’s “Ask the Expert.” Can dress codes be different for male and female employees? Most of the legal problems relating to […]

Can an Early Retirement Nudge Lead to a Lawsuit?

Employers are often reluctant to follow up on allegations made against employees nearing retirement age, both because of the fear of age bias claims, and because these employees stand to lose valuable retirement and other benefits if they’re terminated. For these reasons, employers sometimes suggest that the employee take early retirement rather than risk termination.

Prop 8 Upheld by California Supreme Court

On Tuesday, the California Supreme Court upheld the November amendment to the state constitution—Prop 8—that prohibits same-sex marriage. The court did, however, rule that the 18,000+ same-sex marriages already performed in California will remain legally valid.

Your E-Mail, in Court, the Size of New Jersey

One great way to understand the importance of a casually written   e-mail is to think about how the jury will see it, says attorney Allison West. “In court, it will be blown up to the size of New Jersey,” she says. Yesterday’s Advisor presented West’s tips for bulletproof documentation; today we’ll look at more of […]

Your Manager’s Documentation—Exhibit A at Trial

Employment lawyers aren’t allowed to just say “Document,” says attorney Allison West; they are required to say “Document, document, document.” There’s a good reason for this mantra—documentation is critical. Documentation is what gives you credibility, West says. It’s how you show the world that you did what you say you did. It shows that you […]

How Do You Train the Graveyard Shift?

If you keep the lights burning 24/7 for round-the-clock service or production, you know that providing adequate training for your shift workers is a formidable challenge. Your key to success? Accessibility. Pull Them Off Work or Pay Them Overtime? The first question is whether to train during the shift or outside shift time. If you […]

‘How’m I Doin’?’ Employee Survey Helps Answer that Question

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Bob Brady invites you to take stock of employee satisfaction at your organization—and find out how you compare to similar employers—with the BLR® National Employee Attitude Survey. Third edition The former mayor of New York City, Ed Koch, was famous for asking people, “How’m I doin’?” He’d ask […]

New Health Benefits Law Goes into Effect this Year

On October 9 of this year a new federal law—called Michelle’s Law—regarding who’s entitled to health benefits will go into effect. The law is named for Michelle Morse, a New Hampshire college student with cancer who continued with a full course load against her doctor’s advice in order to maintain health benefits under her parents’ […]

Age Bias Becoming Battleground Issue for Employers

Earlier this month, a statewide class-action lawsuit was filed in a Northern California federal court, alleging that Minnesota-based giant 3M systematically discriminates against older employees. The lawsuit follows a similar case already pending in 3M’s home state.

Legal Dangers of Online Reference Checking, Video Résumés

In Yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Terry Solomon delved into the issue of Web 2.0 privacy. Today she covers legal dangers associated with online reference checking and video résumés. The main legal pitfall around online reference checking is discrimination, says Solomon. (Solomon and colleague Philip L. Gordon, shareholders in the Littler law firm, gave their suggestions at […]