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Harassment: What Does the Recent “Spanking” Lawsuit Teach Us About Where Fun Ends and Harassment Begins?

The recent “spanking” lawsuit—where the “all-in-good-fun” spanking ended up with an expensive lawsuit—has got us thinking. We like our employees to enjoy themselves at work. How do we draw the line between fun, jokes, and good-natured teasing, and sexual—or other—harassment? — Gretchen, HR Manager in Morro Bay

What Is the True Cost of Expanded EEO-1 Reporting?

After several months of uncertainty, we now know that employers will be required to submit Component 2 data (i.e., employee wage and hour data) to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by September 30, 2019. Not only that, but they will be required to submit 2017 and 2018 Component 2 data, which means 2 years […]

Terminating Employees: You Can Refuse To Provide COBRA Benefits To An Employee Fired For Gross Misconduct

Under federal law, employers with 20 or more employees must offer continued health plan benefits, at the workers’ expense, for a period of time after employment ends. And in California, employers with fewer than 20 employees must also do so. However, under both federal and state regulations, you don’t have to offer this COBRA coverage […]

maternity

Modern Family: Baby on Board

As a long-time fan of Modern Family, it has been interesting to watch the characters develop over the last 10 seasons. Haley Dunphy (portrayed by Sarah Hyland) has grown from an image-obsessed high school sophomore to a hard-working professional. On November 7th, the show revealed that Haley is unexpectedly expecting. As Hyland joked in a […]

FMLA

Practical Guidance from Recent FMLA Abuse Cases

In a recent opinion, the 4th Circuit held that an employee failed to show that his former employer’s stated reason for discharging him was a pretext, or excuse, for retaliation based on his use of leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Embracing Diversity and Inclusion for Better Business Outcomes and Employee Engagement

Diversity and inclusion impact not only a company’s employees but also its customer base. Organizations with diverse leadership can align with the values of their customers, building a more diverse workforce that customers can see themselves in. Companies that embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are better equipped to create positive multicultural interactions with their […]

Make Smart Post-Recession, Performance-Based, Pay Decisions

How can you make smart decisions on pay budgets, merit budgets, and overall compensation given the economic turmoil of the last few years? Consultant David Wudyka tells us what’s going on and what we can do about it. Wudyka is founder and managing principal of Westminster Associates, a Wrentham, MA based, full-service HR and compensation […]

Leadership

Three Golden Rules for Millennials in the Workplace

Having spent my career helping leaders bridge the generation gap at the office, I can assure you I’ve heard it all. I’ve seen the intergenerational warfare that breaks out in the boardroom when junior staff question senior leadership. Senior leaders claim junior staff have no respect for hierarchy. Junior staff claim senior leadership has no […]

Single mom wins rotating shift job—then wants days only—and court agrees

by Christian Paquette Did an employer discriminate against a single mother when it required her to work the regular shift rotation job she’d applied for? An Alberta court was recently asked to rule whether an arbitrator was right in deciding against the employer. The court in SMS Equipment Inc. v. CEP, Local 707 agreed that […]