Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
How do you deal with an employee who’s disruptive and can’t get along with co-workers? The obvious answer may be a warning or other discipline. But the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal says employees like these may have a mental disability protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and that instead of disciplining […]
In HR, sometimes the dullest jobs are the most important—like updating job descriptions. This specific task is probably not the reason you were drawn to a career in HR, to say the least … but it’s time to bite the bullet.
The California Supreme Court has decided that its landmark ruling in 2000 that required mandatory arbitration agreements to contain certain fairness protections for employees isn’t just limited to discrimination and harassment claims. We’ll explain the court’s new opinion.
by Kevin C. McCormick Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has signed a bill that prohibits discrimination against transgender citizens in employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations. The Fairness for All Marylanders Act, which was passed by the legislature on March 27 and signed into law on May 15, adds “gender identity” to the Maryland laws that […]
By Christopher L. Thomas The federal government is making it clear to employers that immigration enforcement is a priority for the Obama administration, and that employers failing to comply with the law face severe consequences. On November 19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent out a notice that it intends to audit the I-9 […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a national outreach initiative to educate workers and employers about the hazards of working outside in hot weather. The effort builds on last year’s successful summer campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of too much sun and heat. With the temperatures so far this summer […]
by Michael P. Maslanka Wow, talk about a week full of “breaking news” with President Donald Trump (a la his role in The Apprentice) telling FBI Director James Comey, “You’re fired.” To recap: Comey was fired in the midst of the FBI’s investigation into whether Trump’s presidential campaign colluded with the Russians to rig the […]
Only a limited number of employees may benefit from federal legislation that retroactively extended parity between qualified parking and transit benefits, based on new IRS guidance. Notice 2015-2 instructs employers on applying a retroactive tax exclusion to commuters who used part of their 2014 salary to pay for mass transit commuting expenses or received a […]
A state appeals court has upheld a jury’s $3.8 million award to a dentist who suffered a career-ending injury when he was beaten up by a Kmart security guard. The ruling provides a dramatic example of how you can be liable for misconduct by your employees. Problems started when George Heimer tried to return a telephone […]
An employee who takes family and medical leave is generally entitled to return to the same job or an equivalent one at the end of the leave. But if you downsize while the employee is on leave, is this person’s job protected? A new California Court of Appeal case looks at this question—and how your […]