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Decisionmaking in Employer Pension Plans

By Lyne Duhaime and Ross Gascho If your company is both the sponsor and administrator of a pension plan in a Canadian province other than Quebec, you should take note of the recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision in Re Indalex. Although the case deals with competing claims in insolvency and deficits in wound up […]

A Look at America’s Disabled Population as the ADA Turns 21

July 26 will mark the 21st anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities in public accommodations, commercial facilities, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. Here are some statistics about disabled Americans from the U.S. Census Bureau: There are 36 million disabled […]

Instacart Backs Down on Controversial Pay Policy Update

It can be hard to find workers in any business environment, and that’s even more true with a strong economy and low unemployment But it’s not just big corporations looking for top-dollar professionals that are feeling the pinch; companies whose workers are part-time, temporary, and largely independent need to be careful of how they treat […]

Workplace Discrimination: Ninth Circuit Makes It Easier For Employees To Sue When Employer Had Discriminatory–And Legitimate–Reasons For Discipline

Because of an important new Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, employers may now have an uphill battle to fight when faced with allegations that discrimination was one factor—even if not the only factor—in an adverse employment decision such as a termination. We’ll explain what this is about and suggest ways you can avoid this […]

That Elusive Seat at the Executive Table: Here’s How to Get It

It’s National Boss’s Day. Have you sent your boss a card? Perhaps it should carry this message from Jack Welch … that HR needs to be a more prominent part of your organization. If you think that HR should be as important a function at your company as finance, marketing, or production, and that HR […]

EEOC Discrimination Charges Set Records in 2009

According to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announcement yesterday, 93,277 workplace discrimination charges, the second highest level of charges ever filed with the agency, were filed in 2009. Additionally, the EEOC obtained over $376 million in monetary relief for discrimination victims in 2009. The EEOC received a record high number of private-sector charges alleging […]

April 25 date set for Northwestern football union vote

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has scheduled an April 25 union representation vote for Northwestern University football players. Spokespersons in both the Chicago and Washington, D.C., NLRB offices confirmed that the April 25 date has been set but didn’t have more information such as which players will be eligible to vote and when results […]

Senate confirms Acosta as secretary of labor

On April 27, the Senate confirmed Alexander Acosta as secretary of labor by a vote of 60-38.  Eight Democrats joined the Republican majority in voting for President Donald Trump’s nominee, completing Trump’s Cabinet just shy of his 100th day in office. Acosta, a former National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member, previously served as assistant attorney […]

News Notes: Jury Awards In Employment Lawsuits Skyrocket In 2003

The national median jury award in employment-practice liability cases, which includes discrimination and wrongful termination claims, rose 18 percent in 2003 to $250,000, according to a new report from Jury Verdict Research. At the same time, the compensatory award median for discrimination cases—including age, race, disability, and sex bias—fell slightly by 2 percent to $232,322. […]