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News Notes: Court Affirms Religious Employers Are Exempt From Bias Laws

The California Supreme Court has clarified that nonprofit, religious entities may be exempt from state anti-discrimination laws regardless of how they are incorporated. A nurse at Mercy Healthcare Sacramento sued the hospital for sex and race bias after she was passed up for a promotion. Mercy asked to have the case thrown out, relying on […]

News Notes: NLRB Ruling Makes It Harder To Withdraw Union Recognition

In an important ruling for unionized employers, the National Labor Relations Board has overturned 50 years of precedent and changed the rules for employers who wish to withdraw recognition of a union that may have lost majority support. Under the old rule, an employer could withdraw recognition based on a good-faith belief that the union […]

Employees Want More Money and Are Willing to Ask for It

Even in a strong economy, employers often feel the need to be money-conscious. After all, the basic profit equation is pretty simple: The money I earn minus the money I spend equals my profit. For most businesses, particularly in the service sector, salaries make up a huge portion of company costs and overall revenue.

News Flash: Overtime Update: Computer Wage Board Under Review; New IWC Hearing Dates Announced; Multiple Agenda Items

  The California Industrial Welfare Commission has scheduled two important meetings in May that could lead to significant overtime changes this summer. First, the IWC will meet at the state office building in Van Nuys on May 5 to discuss how the new overtime rules impact meal periods, exempt employees’ duties, pharmacists and theski industry. […]

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 […]

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 […]

Harassment–Old Problem–and Technology–New Problem

Special from SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Jonathan Segal offered tips for HR managers including some predictions for 2525. today, more tips, plus an introduction to a unique, checklist-based audit system that helps you find problems before the feds do. Segal, a partner in the Philadelphia office of Duane Morris LLP […]

News Notes: Continued Steady Decline In Union Membership

Recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figures reveal the number of workers who belong to labor unions has continued its steady 20-year decline. In 2003, just 12.9 percent of U.S. workers belonged to a labor union, down from 13.3 percent a year earlier. For private sector workers, union membership fell from 8.6 percent to […]