Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Litigation Value: $0. The last time The Surplus episode of The Office aired, we talked about Dunder Mifflin’s good behavior (relatively speaking). In the spirit of award season –- specifically the Golden Globes, which are on this Sunday –- let’s give some awards to folks for their exemplary behavior during the episode. Best Actor – […]
When the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1992, the initial questions focused on how to reasonably accommodate disabled workers. But there is another sticky problem that has been surfacing more recently: just who is entitled to ADA protection? You might be surprised to discover that the answer is broader than you think. Even […]
West Virginia has become the 41st state to ban texting while driving. The law, which went into effect July 1, makes it a primary offense to text with a handheld cell phone while driving. Because it’s a primary offense, violators can be pulled over and cited. Texting already was a secondary offense, meaning someone violating […]
BYOD policies are growing in popularity as the number of devices we carry continues to grow. BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Device. Employers and employees alike are increasingly pushing for BYOD policies in the workplace. “Basically, it lets employees use their own device to connect to the company network.” Jason A. Storipan explained in […]
An employer’s random alcohol testing of probationary employees did not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act, despite federal agency guidance to the contrary, a federal district court has ruled (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. United States Steel Corp., No. 10–12 (W.D. Penn. Feb. 20, 2013)). EEOC sued on behalf of a class of employees, arguing […]
It was a surprise birthday party for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), says Susan Schoenfeld, JD. On February 5, 2013, exactly 20 years after the FMLA was signed, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Final Rule ahead of the planned regulatory schedule.
By David Wong Attendance management programs themselves aren’t discriminatory — they just need to be carefully designed and properly applied. Such is the latest conclusion in continuing litigation between Coast Mountain Bus Company Ltd. and the Canadian Auto Workers, a battle over an attendance management program covering transit operators in the Greater Vancouver region in […]
An increasing number of our employees are registering with domestic partners. Can an employee take kin care leave to spend time with his or her domestic partner?— Stephen D., HR Manager in Walnut Creek
By Kevin Green, JD, Fennemore Craig According to a recent study, the United States is the only industrialized nation in the world that does not require private sector employers to provide paid parental leave for employees. That same study concluded that the United States is one of only three countries in the world that does […]
Amazon.com updates its list of the bestselling books every hour. Here is a snapshot of what is hot right now, August 15, in the “Organizational Behavior” section of the “Business and Investing” category. 1. Read This Before Our Next Meeting by Al Pittampalli. Explains what’s wrong with “the meeting,” and meeting culture, but suggests how […]