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News Notes: Clothing Retailer Settles Employee Uniform Lawsuit

Recently, several big-name clothing retailers—including Polo Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Chicos—have been hit with charges that policies requiring employees to buy and wear the retailers’ own clothes violate California’s wage-and-hour rules stating that employers must pay for employee uniforms. Now Abercrombie & Fitch has agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle charges brought […]

Maryland equal pay law will take effect October 1

by Kevin C. McCormick Maryland’s new Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, which takes effect on October 1, will prohibit employers from providing less than favorable employment opportunities to or discriminating against employees by paying different rates based on their sex or gender identity. Under the new law, which was signed by Governor Lawrence Hogan […]

Employee Misconduct: High Court Says Public Employers Can Punish Workers Who Lie In Investigations; How New Ruling Could Affect You

When employees are accused of misconduct, their first instinct may be to say they didn’t do it. But under a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling, public employer scan impose additional punishment on workers who deny an accusationthat later proves to be true. This seemingly straightforward decisioncould have some unexpected consequences, however, as employers may find […]

Hot List: Wall Street Journal’s Bestselling Hardcover Business Books

The following is a list of the bestselling hardcover business books as ranked by the Wall Street Journal with data from Nielsen BookScan. 1. StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup’s Now, Discover Your Strengths by Tom Rath. Are you unsure where your true talents lie? Do you feel […]

You’re the Investigator? Juries Have High Expectations

Although most organizations are not particularly sophisticated in their investigation policies and procedures, says attorney Michael Soltis, unfortunately, juries have high expectations, especially for bigger organizations. How good must misconduct investigations be? There is, of course, no exact answer, say Michael Soltis and Allison Bogosian, attorneys at the Stamford, Conn. offices of nationwide employment law […]

Missouri right-to-work law set to take effect

by Bob Kaiser, Daniel O’Toole, and Jeremy Brenner Missouri’s right-to-work law will take effect on August 28. The law was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Eric Greitens in February. Here are some key provisions of the law: No employee may be required to become or remain a member of a union as […]

Pay Budgets and Variable Pay—What’s Really Happening?

Increases. Budgets. Bonuses. Variable Pay. Compensation is never a simple issue, but it’s an important cornerstone of employee engagement and satisfaction, as well as talent acquisition. What’s happening with pay budgets and variable pay in the real world? What are your competitors up to? Help us find out!

Climbing the Steps (Literally) To Employee Wellness, Morale

Given the choice of climbing three flights of stairs or taking an elevator, most people would probably opt for the elevator. But that’s not necessarily the case at Griffin Hospital, Derby, CT, where a renovated stairwell—complete with carpeting, upbeat music, artwork, and aroma therapy—has generated more interest in trekking up the stairs. The stairwell was […]

Accommodating Disabled Workers: Court Rejects Worker’s Request For Flex-Time Schedule; How Far Do Employers Need To Go?

Figuring out your obligations when an employee asks for an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act can sometimes be complex-and risky. There are no black-and-white rules describing exactly what you’re required to do, especially when the accommodation might involve modifying job duties or adjusting work schedules. But a new court ruling helps set some […]

Background Checks: Employer Whose Independent Contractor Murdered A Client Ordered To Pay $11.5 Million; Precautions To Take

A recent verdict against an employer that failed to properly screen an ex-convict serves as a serious warning: You need to thoroughly check applicant backgrounds before putting someone to work as an employee or independent contractor. We’ll offer tips to help you prevent the problems one company faced.