Month: September 2009

Workers Who Lied About Violating Company Rule Fired, One Who Told Truth Keeps Job

You have several employees you’ve caught red-handed violating a company rule that your employee manual says may justify termination for a first offense. When questioned, one admits to the wrongdoing; the others deny it. Can you fire the employees who lied but retain the other employee with a lesser disciplinary measure? According to a recent […]

Telecommuting: Tips for Managing Employees Who Work From Home

by Brian Molinari The ripple effect of stunning job losses since the recession that began in December 2007 have become commonplace across the United States. And it continues: the global pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has just announced plans to cut 13.6% of its workforce, roughly 5,500 workers. During the 20 months from December 2007 through […]

Office Scuttlebutt

Litigation value: $100,000 A new season of The Office is upon us!  Although Michael Scott is hardly a man for all seasons (and unlikely to be confused with Thomas More, or any other saint), in last night’s premiere he provided us with yet another object lesson on employment law.  This time the principle involved was […]

Changing FMLA Policy? Could Be ‘Worst Mistake’

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady You’ve been diligently following the sweeping—and confusing—changes to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). You’ve even instituted changes to your policies to make sure you’re in compliance. It could be the worst mistake you’ve made all year, says Attorney […]

Employees ‘Gruve’ on NEAT ‘Exercise’

Yesterday’s Advisor introduced the Mall of America’s wellness program. Today we’ll look beyond their Fruity Friday program at some more physically involved programs, and take a look at a unique wellness program guide. The Mall of America, located in Bloomington, Minnesota and one of the largest shopping malls in the country, prides itself as being […]

Can An Exempt Employee’s Salary be Reduced if Their Hours are Reduced?

I have a question regarding exempt salaried employees who work 40 hour work weeks. Can their salary and hourly work weeks be decreased? For example if they had $4450 in monthly earnings working 40 hour work weeks, Could I decrease their salary by 20% and now have them work 32 hour work weeks? If this […]

Baucus Unveils Health Care Reform Proposal

After many months of efforts to craft a health care reform bill that would garner at least some bipartisan support, Sen. Max Baucus unveiled today, September 16, 2009,  proposed legislation that has no Republican support as of yet, even from the three Republicans who were part of his efforts to craft a bipartisan bill. As […]

Ohio Bill Would Expand List of Protected Classes

On Tuesday, September 15, 2009,  the Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected classes under Chapter 4112, Ohio’s antidiscrimination statute, and R.C. 4111.17, which prohibits wage discrimination. The bill, H.B. 176, was introduced into the Ohio House in May and originally added “gender […]

Specter Reveals Possible EFCA Compromise

Senator Arlen Specter, the Republican-turned-Democrat from Pennsylvania, announced on Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at the AFL-CIO convention that he expects Congress to pass a version of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) before the end of the year. He referenced a compromise of the controversial bill that he has been working on and added, “We […]