Most Popular

Facebook ‘Liking’ Is Not Protected Activity, Says District Court

By: Kyle Emshwiller The U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia has found that “liking” something on Facebook is insufficient to be protected under the First Amendment. The six plaintiffs in the case were former employees at a Virginia sheriff’s department. When election time rolled around, the plaintiffs favored their boss’s opponent and […]

5 Big Trends in the Labor Market

A new report from job site Glassdoor looks at five labor market trends to watch in 2018 and beyond.

Do You Need to Pump?

Employment law attorney Dominic Verstegen discusses Dunder Mifflin’s liability for Michael Scott’s actions in the “Lecture Circuit” episode of “The Offfice” should Karen decide to sue for pregnancy discrimination. Litigation Value: $200,000 Although there were several objectionable/actionable incidents on the Lecture Circuit (Part I) episode of The Office, what stood out to me was Michael’s […]

Walk a Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes

By Dan Oswald President, M. Lee Smith Publishers Just My E-pinion We’ve all heard the old saying “Don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.” It’s pretty straightforward. The Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings describes it this way: “Don’t criticize another person’s work until you’ve tried to […]

Can You Fine Obese Employees? Smokers?

Clarian Health of Indianapolis, Indiana, has announced that it will begin to charge employees who smoke, are obese, or fail to control high blood pressure or cholesterol. Management believes that a $5 per-paycheck fine will motivate people to change. But according to expert Lisa Ballentine, wellness rewards do a better job. Most companies sponsor wellness […]

When Investigating Isn’t Enough: 5th Circuit Highlights Importance of Being Thorough

When an employee complains about workplace harassment, opening an investigation is an important first step, but it isn’t the last one. A recent decision from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all employers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) reminds employers that once they learn about possible harassment, they must respond […]

Four Ways You Can Close the Corporate Culture Chasm

By Joseph Grenny In yesterday’s Advisor, Joseph Grenny, cofounder of VitalSmarts, revealed some of his company’s research into the culture gap between leaders and employees. Today Grenny presents four strategies for bridging this chasm and fostering better communication between employees at all levels within the organization.

Train for Internal Investigations, Avoid Compliance Issues

It’s tough to train for all HR contingencies—the feds are always keeping an eye out for administrative, civil, and criminal infractions. But attorney Christine D. Mehfoud says an organization need not worry so long as its compliance program is supported by thorough internal investigations. Are you training appropriately?

Donald Trump will win (a Title VII lawsuit)

This is an entertainment-centered blog and therefore as good a place as any to discuss Donald Trump. By now you are surely aware of the nuanced approach Trump took toward U.S.-Mexico immigration policy in his presidential bid announcement:  “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending […]

emergency

Being Prepared for Natural and Environmental Disasters

In 2017, there were 10,000 deaths caused by natural disasters worldwide. And a lot of those occurred while people were on the job. In addition, research shows that the number of recorded natural disasters has increased quite a bit in the past century. So, it’s still critical, perhaps now more than ever, that we’re well-prepared […]