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‘Sex-plus’ discrimination claims are still viable

by Rachel E. Burke The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals recently addressed the issue of whether a “sex- plus” claim of discrimination, in which a former employee claimed that she was discriminated against specifically for being an African-American female, can be made under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The case […]

wellness

Court Declines to Apply ADA’s Benefits Safe Harbor to Employer’s Wellness Incentive

In hearing a recent federal challenge to an employer’s wellness incentive program, a court rejected the company’s contention that the Americans with Disabilities Act’s (ADA) safe harbor for benefits administration should apply. However, the court dismissed the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) claim that Orion Energy Systems Inc.’s incentive violated the ADA, even though […]

onboarding

An Uptick in Remote Work Opportunities

While employee compensation remains one of the, if not the, most important factors in employee job satisfaction, there are a number of nonfinancial elements that have a strong influence on attracting and retaining top talent. These perks include flexible work hours and the ability to work remotely.

Certifications

Benefits Trend: Employer-Provided Professional Certifications

For some roles, like human resources, specific credentials are required—think Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). For some industries, like finance and accounting, professionals need certifications that show they’re licensed to offer the services in those industries—for example, a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) working with banks and lenders.  

Getting over the hump: Why BLR was lucky enough to survive

From Dan: As a way to honor the individuals who have taught me critical life lessons about people and business, I’ve invited several to write guest columns to run in this space over the next few weeks. Today’s voice of experience once again is Robert L. Brady, the founder of Business and Legal Resources (BLR). […]

Accommodation: ‘Sometimes it Can Be Overwhelming’

Accommodation. “Sometimes it can be overwhelming,” concedes the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). But a good job description is a “constructive tool” for focusing on reasonable accommodations. JAN is a service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. JAN offers the following accommodation scenarios to show how to match job description requirements […]

Chicago teachers end strike

by Brian J. Kurtz On what should have been the second Wednesday of the school year, Chicago teachers ended their strike against the city and returned to work. The bitter dispute brought national attention to Chicago and to the issue of education reform. The last teachers strike in Chicago took place 25 years ago. Apparently, […]

Recruiting: Are We Allowed to Recruit Employees from Competitors?

Our company’s hiring managers always want me to recruit from certain competitor companies. I’d like to know what legal and ethical limits there are on my right to recruit employees from other companies. Can I cold call someone in a competing firm and ask if they would be interested in working for my firm? What […]