Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
by Charles S. Plumb It’s no secret to employers that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has taken a more provocative and confrontational approach to investigating and litigating claims of employment discrimination. But the EEOC’s treatment of Case New Holland, Inc., takes “pushing the envelope” to a new level. To make matters worse, a federal […]
Are you treating your pregnant employees properly? Do you have to offer them an accommodation? There’s been a flurry of action around treatment of pregnant employees under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, some of which has been confusing. The PDA says you have to treat pregnant employees in the same manner you treat other employees who […]
by Hannah Roskey Although courts routinely order one party to pay the other party a portion of its legal fees, administrative tribunals in Canada very rarely have the power or inclination to do so. That includes human rights tribunals across the country, which very rarely order one party to pay the other’s legal costs even […]
In honor of Halloween, this post will address some of the many potential workplace issues in the Pixar film, Monsters, Inc. If you’ve been living under a rock and have managed to not see this film (or its recent sequel), here’s a quick recap. A city called Monstropolis is inhabited by monsters and is powered […]
It starts with break room tables laden with bowls of candy corn and “fun-size” chocolate bars. Then come turkey and Pilgrim decorations, which quickly give way to workstations sporting menorahs, Nativity scenes, Christmas trees, tinsel, and eventually New Year’s party hats and streamers. With the kickoff of the fall-winter holidays, employers need to consider not […]
An employer group criticized the latest legal challenge to an employee wellness program filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The commission alleges that Honeywell International, Inc.’s biometric testing incentive for employees and their spouses violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. “This is an outrageous development, and one that […]
by Mark Flora Recently, I realized that my desk was covered with recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decisions (and articles about those decisions) I needed to review. The problem is, the Board is intruding into nonunion workplaces with such ferocity that it is impossible to keep up. The self-described Rip Van Winkle of government […]
It’s that time of year again. Time for Halloween and all the candy, cheesy ghost stories, and inappropriate costumes that come with it. While Halloween can be fun and exciting, the fallout for employers can be all fright. Office Parties. While workplace costume parties can lighten the mood in the office, employers should be proactive […]
by Richard E. Johnston In Canada, benefit plans are subject to legislation related to income tax, human rights, and employment standards. However, there is little specific regulation of benefit plans other than pension plans. A key exception is the provision of long-term disability benefits that are not funded under an insurance contract—at least for federally […]
Employers have dealt with health scares before. Maladies ranging from the common cold to virulent strains of flu often prompt employers to post hand-washing reminders, offer onsite vaccinations, and encourage sick employees to stay home. But the challenge intensifies in the midst of a disease outbreak as serious and frightening as Ebola. As the deadly […]