Category: HR Management & Compliance

There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.

Massachusetts

Earned Sick Time Law: Do Unions in Massachusetts Have to Comply?

After Massachusetts voters approved the Earned Sick Time Law (ESTL) referendum in 2014, a group of construction industry employers filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to declare that the new law couldn’t be enforced against them because they are parties to collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with unions. So far, the courts have replied that […]

Friday Funday: HR Rebus Puzzle

Also, the answers to our Friday Funday riddles from May 5th are now live! Check them out here! A rebus is an allusional device that uses pictures to represent words or parts of words. Can you guess what HR term this rebus depicts? If you get stuck, click the “See Answer” button below.

fired

In California, You Can’t Fight Fire with Firings: Preventing Domestic Violence at Work

On April 10, 2017, a 53-year-old man walked into a special needs classroom in San Bernadino, California, pulled out a gun, and shot his estranged wife, 53-year-old Karen Elaine Smith. Two children standing near Smith were also hit by gunfire; 8-year-old Jonathan Martinez died later at the hospital. The gunman then turned his gun on […]

Ebola

Is the Potential to Contract Ebola a Disability? EEOC Thinks So

A Massage Envy franchise violated federal law when it fired an employee for traveling to Ghana, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The company acted on fears that its massage therapist might contract Ebola and, in doing so, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the commission has alleged in a lawsuit.

reduced schedule leave

FMLA Training Scenario: Reduced Schedule Leave Request Vexes Employer

Here we present a leave-related workplace scenario—inspired by an actual court case—that’s intended to help HR professionals better understand an employer’s responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).  This scenario involves an employee who can no longer work overtime due to a medical condition—but the employer says that working overtime is an essential […]

Leave

California Court Confirms Employers Not Required to Provide Employees Indefinite Leaves of Absence

In a recent case, an employee suffered a stroke at work. Even after a 14-month leave of absence, her doctors could not state with certainty when she would be able to return to work. In that situation, it was clear her employer did not discriminate against her based on her disability when it terminated her […]