Tag: Employment law

AOL Debacle Highlights Need to Maintain HIPAA Privacy Practices

Although sponsors of group health plans have had their hands full sorting through the still-changing Affordable Care Act requirements, the recent uproar involving AOL CEO Tim Armstrong is a stark reminder of the need to stay vigilant on HIPAA privacy — even as companies wrestle publicly with health care costs. As has been widely reported, […]

It’s frisky business avoiding the love-bug litigation

by Jasmin Rojas Roses are red Violets are blue, Cupid’s arrow at work May snag a  lawsuit for you. It’s February, the month of romance. Love (and perhaps a plethora of pheromones) permeates the air. No doubt that greeting cards and jewelry commercials contribute to a love sick contagion during this month. Guess what? Your […]

“You’ve got mail! And it just might be a warrant for your arrest”

You don’t have to try very hard these days to find employment law references in pop culture. Movies and TV shows examine issues of employment discrimination, politicians seem unable to resist the urge to text photos of their private parts to their disgusted subordinates, and professional athletes provide ample fodder for lawyers in desperate search […]

Are you using the correct forms to conduct background checks?

by Lisa Berg Under regulations issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which replaced the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as the enforcer of most provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), employers were required to begin using a revised “summary of rights” form for background checks as of January 1, 2013. It’s a […]

Employee privacy in the accommodation process

By Keri Bennett We all know employees across Canada have an obligation to participate in the accommodation process. That extends to providing proper medical documentation. If an employee fails to provide such documentation, surely he or she could be disciplined. Not necessarily. Notwithstanding the employee’s obligation to participate in the accommodation process, an Ontario arbitrator […]

Is age just a number? Lessons from Jay Leno’s departure

I’m beginning to feel my age. Last night, a good friend celebrated a milestone birthday (I won’t say which milestone, but you can probably guess). His wife asked everyone to come in 1970s garb or as a character from the decade, so I went as J.R. Ewing. Our babysitter (born in 1995) had no idea […]

Great applicant, great employee, or both? Tips on finding the best

Want to nudge Bill Gates down a bit on the list of wealthiest people? Just come up with a formula for making the perfect hire. Employers the world over will beat a path to your door and compensate you handsomely. But if you can’t come up with such a formula, you can still improve your […]

Federal contractors facing new regulations: Tips for compliance

Employers doing business with the federal government need to mark March 24 in red on their calendars. That’s when major parts of new regulations affecting how they recruit and hire veterans and people with disabilities take effect.  The Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) requires contractors to take affirmative action to employ veterans covered […]

From Gattaca to GINA: Use of genetic information in workplace is problematic

If there is one thing that is universal about the entertainment world, it’s that it makes us all feel inadequate. Yes, with the airbrushed photos and the digital editing techniques, the stars and starlets who grace the covers of magazines and show up on the big screen all seem to have something (or multiple things) […]

Human rights claim disallowed; victim was part of the harassment

By Nicola Sutton In December 2013 we reported on the allegations faced by the Miami Dolphins that one of its players had been bullied and harassed by his teammates, an issue faced by many employers. Sometimes these issues are complicated when a complaining employee has been or is an active participant in the complained-of behavior. […]