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Retaliation Claims: Employee Wins Half-Million Dollars For Backing Co-Worker’s Complaint; Preventive Measures You Can Take

Most employers are aware that it’s illegal to retaliate against an employee who complains about discrimination. But did you know you are also at risk if you discipline or fire someone who merely supports a co-worker’s bias complaint? A Los Angeles employer recently learned this costly lesson when it was hit with a big jury […]

Overhauling overtime

by Adam P. Boyd The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes basic rights and wage protections, including overtime pay requirements, for American workers. The majority of workers covered by the Act must be paid 1 1/2 times their regular pay rate for all hours worked in excess of 40 per workweek.  On March 13, President […]

Family and Medical Leave: Two New Cases Highlight Tricky Issues to Watch Out For

Although many employers know the Family and Medical Leave Act’s basic requirements, unusual circumstances can trip up even the most savvy. We’ll look at two recent cases involving your duty to inform employees of their leave rights and the importance of determining an employee’s “worksite” for FMLA purposes. No FMLA Notice for Injured Employee Richard […]

Does the FLSA Apply to My Company?

I often read about the requirements of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.  How do I know if this law applies to our organization, particularly if we’re also covered by California wage and hour laws?  — Francesca in Merced

Encourage Workplace Experiences that Inspire, Motivate Employees

I had a conversation about Christmas the other day with my 15-year-old son. We were talking about the gifts he might like to get when our conversation turned to things he’d like to do. Might he prefer tickets to a concert or a ballgame instead of a new iPod or video game? The idea seemed […]

LinkedIn to Pay Almost $6M for Overtime Violations

LinkedIn Corp. will pay almost $6 million to 359 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation revealed that the company had committed overtime and recordkeeping violations. According to DOL, LinkedIn failed to record and pay employees for all hours worked, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. It will pay $3,346,195 in back […]

The 9 Deadly Sins of Hiring and Recruiting (Part 1)

A top employment lawyer has listed 9 huge mistakes to avoid in hiring and recruiting. Today, the first four. Tomorrow, the rest. You’ve probably heard the old expression, “the 7 deadly sins.” Well, that doesn’t apply to hiring and recruiting. That’s because we have it on good authority that, in hiring, there are 9 such […]

Vegas Trip with Terminally Ill Mother Excuses Absence, Per FMLA

Absences to care for a family member with a serious health condition do not need to be connected to medical treatment — nor do they depend on a particular location — to qualify as leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in Ballard v. Chicago Park […]

Let Me Introduce You to Your New ‘Personnel Assistant’ …

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Join BLR’s Founder and CEO on a guided tour through the newly upgraded and redesigned HR website, HR.BLR.com I tend to use this space to write about management challenges and HR issues, but let me assure you, I’m no ivory-tower CEO. As my people will tell you, I’m […]