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What Are You Doing to Stay in Touch with Employees ‘On a Break’?

Employees leave companies for a variety of reasons, and many are not necessarily permanent. Some employees may move for a significant other or may pursue a long-shot opportunity that doesn’t ultimately pan out. Others may take time off to raise a family or care for a loved one.

Cannabis

What You Need to Know About Marijuana and Workplace Safety and Wellness

Thirty states have now legalized marijuana use for medicinal purposes, while recreational marijuana is legal in nine states and Washington, D.C. And as many states across the country become more lenient with their marijuana laws and regulations, organizations should seek out everything there is to know about marijuana and workplace safety and wellness. Continue reading […]

Paycheck Fairness Act Meets Its Demise

The much-hyped Paycheck Fairness Act has been shut down and is unlikely to be revived any time soon. The PFA (S. 182; H.R. 11) was initially introduced in 2008 as a companion to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The bill, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2009, needed 60 votes […]

Employee’s own testimony sinks her case

By Richard L. Rainey We often tell clients that not all lawsuits are filed because an employee has evidence of discrimination or believes she was discriminated against. Rather, sometimes they’re filed because the employee thinks she was treated unfairly. That concept is illustrated in a recent case out of Durham. Background Iretha Lawrence, an African […]

Expedited union elections: The Canadian experience

By Brian P. Smeenk Many Canadian provinces have in recent years transitioned to an expedited union certification vote system. Votes typically take place within five or 10 business days of a union application. From the perspective of Canadian employers, this is better than the previous “card check” system that was in place in most jurisdictions […]

Health and Safety: Preventing Toxic Mold in the Workplace

One of the fastest-growing concerns for employers is toxic mold in the workplace. According to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), toxic mold can affect indoor air quality and cause serious health conditions. These problems are fueling an increase in litigation over the presence of mold, and big-money settlements and judgments in the […]

You Are in Control of Your Own Legacy

I enjoy reading biographies. People’s lives fascinate me and most of the time are much more interesting than any piece of fiction. Over the years, I’ve read dozens, if not hundreds, of biographies of politicians, business leaders, and athletes.

Sharing the pain: Do economic conditions count?

by Clayton Jones Does a poor economy mean a shorter reasonable notice period? Canadian employers often ask this question—particularly in cyclical industries. When assessing reasonable notice, courts will consider the employee’s position and responsibilities, length of service, age, and the availability of similar employment. Not only has it been unusual for courts to consider negative […]

Nine Ways NOT to Hire the Brightest and the Best

Hiring is such a critical role for managers and supervisors, yet many of them take a casual or mistaken (read legally dangerous) view of the job. In today’s Advisor, we share a few of the worst interview approaches we’ve come across. 1. Great Interview—Fascinating Person We had great rapport—we talked baseball (she’s also a Sox […]