Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Free governments across history have encouraged people to come forward when they see the law being violated. The United States is no different. Most states, including New Hampshire, have a statute affording certain protections to people who report wrongdoing, with such individuals normally referred to as “whistleblowers.” The basic idea behind all of these statutes […]
With data security concerns at an all-time high after the global “WannaCry” ransomware hack in May 2017, you may be wondering if you need to do more to protect your employees’ and customers’ personal information.
A recent case from the Tennessee Court of Appeals acts as a reminder of the importance of implementing and enforcing policies aimed at preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. The outcome of the case also shows that while you may not be able to prevent all inappropriate behavior by your supervisors, how you respond to […]
A multi-agency federal and state investigation has led to the guilty plea and imprisonment of Ohio businessman William M. Apostelos, who orchestrated a Ponzi scheme that included the theft of $1.9 million from an employee benefit plan. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and Office of Inspector General (OIG) participated in […]
In a split decision, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee—recently held that the cat’s-paw theory of liability applies to retaliation claims under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
There are effective strategies employers can use to investigate complaints of workplace bullying, according to Karen Michael, Esq. of KarenMichael PLC, a presenter at SHRM’s 2017 Annual Conference & Exposition in New Orleans.
On May 2, 2017, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) released its Workplace Harassment Guide, which advises employers how to develop an effective antiharassment program, respond to and investigate claims of harassment, and take appropriate remedial actions. The guide, found here, follows up on regulations the Fair Employment and Housing Council enacted […]
A U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) investigation of an employer-sponsored retirement plan may originate in a variety of ways.
Workplace investigations can be time consuming and exhausting—but, despite that, they’re not a time where it’s okay to cut corners. When conducting an investigation, the organization must always remember that it’s not only seeking to resolve the issue at hand, it’s also seeking to minimize the risk of future lawsuits and do everything properly in […]
Although confidentiality agreements that prohibit employees from discussing their salaries, benefits, or internal disciplinary investigations with other employees may sound reasonable, such policies generally violate federal labor law. A recent decision by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that a Phoenix hospital’s confidentiality agreement was unlawfully restrictive of employees’ Section 7 rights under the […]