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The Courtroom Shouldn’t Be Recordkeeping’s First Test

Litigation is the ultimate test of the adequacy of an employer’s recordkeeping practices, says attorney Allen Kato of the San Francisco office of Fenwick and West LLP. Of course, the courtroom isn’t the best place to find out that records are inadequate, incomplete, or nonexistent. Record retention is a daunting task for employers because there […]

A Tool to Track Jan. 1 State Employment Law Changes

Jan. 1 is the effective date for new employment law in many states. Here’s a widely used tool to help you keep up with the changes. As of this week, if you allowed smoking in your company’s lobby or stairwells, you can’t anymore, if you operate in California. As of this week, if you operate […]

Senate Hearing on Pay Equity May Discuss Paycheck Fairness Act

A Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee hearing on pay equity, scheduled for Thursday, March 11, may revive discussion of the stalled Paycheck Fairness Act. The Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182; H.R. 11) was sponsored before the Senate in January 2009 by then-Senator Hillary Clinton and Representative Rosa DeLauro. Representative DeLauro will appear […]

U.S. Supreme Court Building

Employers Need to Continue Healthcare Reform Implementation

The U.S. Supreme Court held the attention of the nation (and employers) on Thursday, June 28, when it released its highly anticipated decision on the healthcare reform law (the Affordable Care Act, or ACA) enacted in March 2010. In a decision that surprised many analysts, the Court upheld the law in a 5-4 opinion authored […]

Have You Heard of a Returnship?

Employers everywhere are finding that a robust economy and low unemployment means fewer applicants for any given role. It’s often difficult to find a well-qualified employee when a vacancy presents itself. As such, they’re thinking of creative ways to expand the talent pool and find candidates who are a good fit.

Trade Secrets: Staggering Fines For High-Tech Company That Stole Sensitive Information; 5 Steps To Minimize Disclosure Risks

Former employees who make off with your trade secrets can spell disaster for your business. Once confidential information is in a competitor’s hands, the damage is done and may be impossible to reverse. Now a case involving Fremont-based Avant! Corp.—which had to pay huge fines and whose top executives are off to jail—provides a dramatic […]

Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission Adopts Draft of Paid Sick Leave Rules

On April 1, 2009, the Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission (ERC) adopted a draft of the City of Milwaukee Paid Sick Leave Ordinance Administrative Rules. These rules establish the standards and procedures the ERC will use for both the implementation and the enforcement of the ordinance by the ERC should the current legal challenge to the […]

How far-reaching will the Irving Pulp & Paper decision be?

By Clayton Jones Last week we told you about the recent decision in Irving Pulp & Paper where the Supreme Court of Canada severely limited an employer’s right to perform random alcohol and drug testing in the workplace. The implications of the Irving decision will undoubtedly be far-reaching, including on two prominent cases currently being […]

Managing the end to mandatory retirement

by Keri Bennett As we reported previously, the Canadian federal government is about to join most of the provinces in making mandatory retirement, for the most part, unlawful. That deadline is fast approaching – December 15, 2012. What can employers do until then? According to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, very little. Human Rights Commission […]

Wellness Is TC Squared–Managing Employees and Risks

Managing wellness is described as “TC2” by today’s expert. That means Taking Care of employees and Taking Care of risks. Everybody wants to take care of employees, says attorney Francis Alvarez, but they must also realize that along with wellness programs come legal risks. It all depends on the kind of program you offer. Alvarez is […]