Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
by Stefanie M. Renaud With the announcement of Gretchen Carlson’s (and, subsequently, several other female employees’) complaints about Fox News head Roger Ailes and his ensuing resignation, sexual harassment has recently been in the news. Although Ailes’ conduct somehow slipped under Fox’s radar, most other employers know that employee complaints about sexual harassment are a […]
by Michael J. Modl Imagine you employ Rajesh Tank, an employee of Indian descent, as a regional VP. Other employees report that Tank engaged in unprofessional conduct that hurt team morale, showed favoritism toward certain employees, and pressured employees to hire a particular contractor. You investigate the allegations, find some truth to them, order Tank […]
Latifa Lyles, Acting Director of the Women’s Bureau (WB), noted that today, full-time female workers earn on average only 81 percent of what their male counterparts earn. For African-American females and Latinas, the wage ratio is substantially lower: 68 cents and 59 cents, respectively. But the real cost of the pay gap is more than […]
Employers are looking to save time and money and are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to make employment practices more efficient. In early 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance to help employers navigate the use of AI. The takeaway is that eliminating humans from critical employment processes could result in a violation […]
by Kevin C. McCormick In a recent decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit found that the employees who worked concessions at Oriole Park at Camden Yards were not entitled to overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) because a concessionaire is an “amusement or recreational establishment” exempt from the […]
Recently, President Trump sought to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military via a series of tweets that included reference to “the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.” So far, the ban doesn’t appear to be taking place, but it has raised concerns among transgender people everywhere.
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 […]
The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin employers) recently interpreted the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in a case involving an interesting set of facts. The employer altered an employee’s position while he was on leave, but his compensation was frozen at a pre-leave level […]
by Warren Nelson and Karl Lindegren, Fisher & Phillips, LLP In today’s tough economy, employers worldwide have been forced to shed key personnel in order to minimize costs. Companies large and small have reduced their workforce by drastic numbers, many left with no choice but to lay off valued employees. However, in the wake of […]
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on October 22 released its proposal easing restrictions on open multiple-employer plans (MEPs) to encourage more small businesses to offer defined contribution (DC) retirement plans to their employees.