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U.S. Supreme Court rules drug reps are exempt as “outside salesmen”

By Nancy Williams Pharmaceutical representatives who persuade physicians to prescribe specific drugs don’t make any actual sales. They can’t because the products they promote can be sold legally only through a doctor’s prescription to an individual patient. Yet for years, it has been a common industry practice to categorize such employees as outside sales representatives […]

EEOC Files First ADA Lawsuit Against Employee Wellness Program

The first direct federal challenge to an employee wellness program’s legality under the Americans with Disabilities Act was filed Aug. 20 by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The employer’s program did not qualify as “voluntary” under the ADA because the one employee who refused to participate was forced to bear the entire cost of […]

Learning About the Job

On April 26, thousands of your future job candidates learned about career opportunities by participating in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. While it is a once-a-year event, the program can serve as a model for encouraging young people to explore careers.

15 Ideas in 15 Minutes—Attract, Engage, Retain

A much-appreciated session at BLR’s recent Advanced Employment Issues Symposium was a panel presentation during which panelists offered quick, real-world-tested ideas for attracting, engaging and retaining employees. The original talk was called “30 Ideas in 30 Minutes,” but we’ve culled the best fifteen ideas for our readers. The panelists were: Andrew Botwin, head of Human […]

Workplace Security: FBI Offers Tips on Protecting Your Workplace

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security have launched a campaign to help protect workplaces from physical and cyber threats. At the heart of the campaign is a series of posters and a brochure designed to raise awareness and help prevent crime and terrorism in and around the workplace, from robberies […]

Up to 88 Hours per Week Without the Paycheck to Prove It

A broadcasting company is in hot water after allegedly failing to pay certain employees minimum wage and proper overtime, according to a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) press release. The DOL has filed a lawsuit against the company and its owner, alleging that six employees are due $79,445 in unpaid overtime and minimum wages, plus […]

EEOC to update guidance on English-only policies?

by Amanda Shelby Chief among the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) current priorities are (1) eliminating barriers in recruitment and hiring and (2) protecting immigrant, migrant, and other vulnerable workers. It therefore should come as no surprise that the EEOC might be setting its sights on revising its guidance relating to English-only policies since those […]

People are people

It’s always good to remember that people are people. In our society, we tend to put people on a pedestal. Athletes, actors, musicians, and even business executives are revered and idolized. Consider how Michael Jordan, George Clooney, Elvis Presley, and Steve Jobs are perceived. Elvis—only his first name is necessary—is still the second best-selling artist […]

EEOC maintains steady position on transgender employees’ rights

by JW Furman With all the attention given to President Donald Trump’s recent removal of the Obama administration’s protection for transgender bathroom access, it’s important to remember that the action applies only to public school students. For employers, the issue remains as unsettled as ever.  There’s no reason to believe that the Equal Employment Opportunity […]

Ever Been Arrested or Convicted? … Is It Discriminatory to Ask?

EEOC has released guidance on the use of arrest and conviction records in screening job candidates. Many employers do subject job candidates to criminal background checks to combat theft and fraud, and to avoid workplace violence. But the EEOC sees the possibility of discrimination. That’s because arrest and incarceration rates are particularly high for African […]