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Correcting Employee Bad Habits to Boost Cybersecurity

As more and more global commerce and data management takes place online, the likelihood and potential impacts of cyberattacks are sure to increase. In an article for Harvard Business Review, Alex Blau cites some prominent and recent examples of the potential impacts of cyberattacks on even the largest and most sophisticated businesses:

It’s, Like, Dishonest

Litigation Value:  Dunder Mifflin faces potential FTC sanctions for Erin and Pete’s fake “like” marketing campaign on Facebook. “Customer Loyalty” aired back in January, and I highly recommend Kristin’s post questioning the validity of Dwight’s loyalty pledge.  I might add that such a pledge is probably not necessary considering that most states recognize in some […]

Hiring Goals for Individuals Disabilities—New Affirmative Action Requirement

The changes are to the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits employment discrimination against individuals with disabilities. BLR Senior Legal Editor and affirmative action expert Susan Schoenfeld explains how the new regulations will impact government contractors. Effective Date in March 2014 According to the OFCCP, the new rules will […]

The Power of Words

Most people would agree that strong communication skills — written or verbal — are an asset for any manager. The ability to communicate effectively can be a profound advantage in business. Words can be used to motivate, negotiate, intimidate, and validate. Words are powerful weapons and, when wielded by someone who is adept in their […]

Alleged Whistleblower Must Only Prove Protected Activity Was ‘Contributing Factor’

On February 8, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) found that former employees who filed a federal whistleblower retaliation claim under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) must only show the protected activity was a “contributing factor” to the employer’s adverse employment decision. Significantly, the Court found whistleblowers need not show “retaliatory intent”—in contrast […]

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 […]

Case Study: New York State’s Guidance on Paid Prenatal Leave Law

Beginning on January 1, 2025, New York State’s amended Paid Sick Leave Law will require employers to provide New York employees with up to 20 hours of paid leave every year for “prenatal personal leave,” which is defined as “leave taken for the health care services received by an employee during their pregnancy or related […]

Wild Thing, I Think I Loathe You

Dan read the following timely column by California Employment Law Letter editor Mark Schickman and thought Oswald Letter readers would enjoy it. Dan will be taking off next week but will return to his weekly column the following week. by Mark Schickman You’ve got an employee, Charlie, who has always been a wild thing. Too […]

RIF Rules—The 6 WARN Exceptions

Reductions in Force (RIFs) under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act) are burdensome, but you might be in luck—there are six exceptions to the act, as spelled out by HR.BLR.com. First, there are three situations in which WARN rules may not apply at all: (1) The closing in question is of a […]

The Initiation Reprised

When I first saw this episode, I thought, surely initiation pranks don’t really occur at work. After all, adults know that the workplace is not an extension of their fraternity houses. I did some research. I was wrong. In one case, Los Angeles firefighters mixed dog food into the spaghetti dinner of a co-worker who […]