Tag: Employment law

Life after certification applications: Lawful outsourcing and scope of bargaining units

by Karine Fournier and Valérie Gareau-Dalpé Union certification applications can have profound impacts on the workplace. The bargaining unit’s composition will have implications for the conduct of the employer’s business, and it bears close attention. The union applying for certification will be the one proposing the scope of the bargaining unit. Merely showing there is […]

Personal phones causing a problem at work? Damage control is possible

Smartphones. Certainly, they can be tremendous tools, but they also can be major distractions in the workplace. A recent survey from CareerBuilder placed cellphones at the top of a list of productivity killers at work, more of a problem than office gossip, social media, smoke breaks, and other diversions.  Phones are now so much more […]

10-step plan for fair and balanced approach to preventing workplace harassment

In less than a year, Fox News has lost its founder and one of its most well-known anchors due to widespread sexual harassment allegations. Fox News recently reported that 20th Century Fox paid $10 million in sexual harassment settlements in the first quarter of 2017 alone. How can Fox News be proactive in avoiding harassment […]

Comey debacle a lesson in how not to accomplish a firing

by Michael P. Maslanka Wow, talk about a week full of “breaking news” with President Donald Trump (a la his role in The Apprentice) telling FBI Director James Comey, “You’re fired.” To recap: Comey was fired in the midst of the FBI’s investigation into whether Trump’s presidential campaign colluded with the Russians to rig the […]

Court refuses to put the brakes on random drug and alcohol testing – for now

by Rachel Younan The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has declined to grant an injunction that would have suspended the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) ability to implement its random drug and alcohol testing policy. In Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113 v. Toronto Transit Commission, 2017 ONSC 2078, the court concluded that there was a serious […]

7 things I learned while practicing labor and employment law

by Tom Daniel I have had the privilege of practicing labor and employment law in Alaska for 31 years. Over that time, the law has become more complex, and more laws than ever before now apply to the employment relationship. Here are some nonlegal principles I have learned that might help you avoid legal disputes […]

What's Next

What’s the Outlook for the DOL Overtime Rules and the AHCA?

What’s the future for the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) overtime rule?  And now that the American Health Care Act (AHCA) has passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, what should we expect from the U.S. Senate?  Melissa Sharp Murdock, Esq., Director, External Affairs for WorldatWork discussed these questions Tuesday at the WorldatWork Total Rewards […]

3 emerging trends for employers to watch

by Bryan R. Cokeley The following article provides an overview of how the law might change in the near future based on three issues that employers across the country have been grappling with.  1. Ban-the-box legislation The United States incarcerates a larger percentage of its population than any other industrialized country. Consequently, our correctional facilities […]