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Espionage in an Employee Handbook?

Yesterday, we went back in time and looked at some interesting policies from Walt Disney’s 1943 employee handbook. Today, a few more — as well as a foolproof way to ensure your handbook is always current and complete.

Worker Hands Employer Tough FMLA, ADA Case

(Updated Dec. 30, 2009) Q. We have an employee who works as an administrative assistant. She was recently in a car accident and injured her arm, hand, and wrist. Her main job duty is to transcribe documents. That often requires her to type for hours at a time. She also is responsible for taking handwritten […]

A study of older Americans: Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau

Senior citizens — those 65 and older — aren’t just sitting around in their rocking chairs. More and more, they are making up a vital part of the workforce. Here are some statistics about Americans age 65 and older from the U.S. Census Bureau. There were 37.3 million people 65 and older in the United […]

How 2012 election results will affect HR in 2013, part 1

by David S. Fortney President Barack Obama will be sworn in for his second term Monday. The 113th Congress met for the first time on January 3 with its slightly revised composition. With those players in place, the main question for employers and HR professionals is, how will the 2012 election results affect the federal […]

My wife made me do it

by Mark I. Schickman People often complain that California employment law is bizarre. My colleagues around the country call our judges “fruits and nuts.” To the contrary, however, while our legislature is farther left than most states’ legislatures and our juries are more profligate than most, our appellate courts are relatively centrist. The award for […]

Who’s Owed Unpaid Overtime in Your Organization?

Changes to overtime rules have been in place since 2004 , yet employers are getting tripped up for big-dollar lawsuits with increasing frequency. What’s up with that? Just a few examples from recent headlines: • McLand, a wholesale distributor of food and grocery products, pays $1.5 million in overtime to “retail merchandising specialists.” • Allied […]

Last-Minute Regulatory Initiatives at OFCCP

There is a historical tendency in the final months of an administration to increase regulatory activity in an attempt to solidify its legacy. As the Bush administration comes to a close, it appears the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has its primary attention. Keep up with the latest […]

Wal-Mart Settles Sex Discrimination Suit for $11.7

By Saul C. Glazer Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., has agreed to pay $11.7 million in back wages and compensatory damages, its share of employer taxes, and up to $250,000 in administration fees and will furnish other relief, including jobs, to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The settlement illustrates […]