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“The Coup” Revisited

Litigation Value: $65,000 (but could have been much more) Having Dwight stand on his desk with the word “liar” hanging from his neck is not what I would consider the most effective method of employee discipline. Nor was tricking him into believing that he got Michael fired. But, without more, Michael’s actions may not be […]

Clerk’s Discrimination Claim for Sexual Stereotyping Checks Hotel into Court

Brenna Lewis worked part-time as a front desk clerk for Heartland Inns in Altoona and Ankeny, Iowa. She did a great job — at least according to her direct supervisors. She was well liked by customers and fit in well in the position. Based on those accolades, she was offered and accepted a full-time day […]

Letting an Employee Go … the Right Way

By Bridget Miller No matter how well-documented the problem is—and no matter how carefully considered the decision has been—firing an employee is almost always difficult. It’s a moment fraught with high emotions on all sides. Guest columnist Bridget Miller has some tips for doing it the right way.

Snowball Effect of Wage and Hour Class Action Lawsuits

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal law that governs wages and overtime pay, has been the topic of numerous articles in state Employment Law Letters.  We’ve reported on the rise of wage and hour lawsuits filed state courts and we highlighted what federal courts consider “acceptable terms” for an FLSA settlement agreement What […]

Failure to Pay Correctly—#6 on the List of Lawsuit Magnets

[Go here for failures 1 to 5.] 6. Failure to Pay Correctly Yes, it’s the pay thing. Zandy’s danger zones are: Misclassification (exempt vs. nonexempt) Timesheets (in & out) Meetings (mandatory and unpaid?) Off-the-clock (off-duty helping on-duty) Travel Bonuses (discretionary vs. nondiscretionary) The good news is plaintiffs’ lawyers are unlikely to take a case if […]

Exemption Audits: Should You Involve Employees?

If you are doing more with less (and who isn’t?), employees are putting in extra hours, and exempt workers are likely to question whether they’re really exempt from overtime. It’s probably wise to do a self-audit, but is it wise to include employees in the process? If you do include employees in the exemption audit, […]

Mind over matter: lessons on mental toughness from the Olympics

by Dan Oswald When I flipped on the television yesterday to check out the Olympics, I found myself watching the men’s Super-G Alpine skiing. By the time I had tuned in, the celebrated American skier Bode Miller was safely at the bottom of the slope and sitting in first place. This is believed to be […]

How to Hire Like Google

How do you and your companies go about hiring new employees? Each company is obviously different in their hiring techniques. For Google, they go about hiring in steps. These steps help them determine which prospective candidate is right for their company. Take a look at the infographic below to learn more!

Court rules employees have obligation to give notice of resignation

by Stefan Kimpton Most Canadian employers know about their obligations to provide notice or payment instead of notice to employees when terminating their employment without cause. But what about employees? Do they also have to provide their employers with reasonable notice of their intention to quit their job? What happens if a key employee leaves […]