Month: August 2017

Train Against Bad Habits, and Avoid Lawsuits Like These

The adage “old habits die hard” seems particularly applicable to a rash of lawsuits recently filed and settled by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). There is no shortage of cases such as these, and they are good reminders that strong antidiscrimination and antiharassment policies, ongoing training, and stringent oversight are absolutely essential for an […]

THC

Too High to Hire

As employers struggle to fill open positions, one step in the screening process is causing them to turn away candidates who are otherwise qualified: the pre-employment drug test. At the same time, other job seekers, who learn that a company requires a drug test, are deciding not to apply.

Benefits

What Are Caregiving Benefits?

As the population ages, more and more employees are finding themselves part of what is often called the “sandwich generation.” This group, unlike the traditional generations, is not defined by what year you were born but rather by a stage of life—the stage in which you find yourself sandwiched between caregiving responsibilities for both dependents […]

Corporate Culture Is Everything

Before companies can achieve and sustain maximum shareholder value or market share, their corporate cultures must first be established. Even though this is a critical step, there are many competing definitions of the amorphous phrase “corporate culture,” thus bringing about various interpretations of the topic.

Right-to-work advocates dealt blow in Missouri

by Tammy Binford Missouri’s new right-to-work law, which was supposed to take effect August 28, is on hold after opponents of the measure submitted petitions to put the law up for a voter referendum in November. The state legislature passed the law, and Governor Eric Greitens signed it in February, but on August 18, unions […]

Don’t put off until tomorrow what you SHOULD do today

by Dan Oswald Benjamin Franklin once said, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” It’s good advice for all of us. Last month, I lost my brother-in-law in a tragic accident. He was just 47. Last week, I lost a friend, also in a tragic accident. He was only 55. Ironically, both […]

solar eclipse

Eclipse Overshadows Workday, Costs Employers Millions

August 21, 2017, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a solar eclipse for some and—since it occurred on a Monday—a loss of profit for others. Did your company hold a solar eclipse viewing party, or did you simply allow your employees to view the eclipse on their own? Either way, if your employees weren’t working […]

immigration

9th Circuit Upholds $300,000 Penalty for I-9 Violations

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires employers to verify that their employees are legally authorized to work in the United States. It also prohibits employers from knowingly continuing to employ aliens who aren’t authorized to work. The INA calls for penalties of varying amounts for each violation, depending on the nature of the violation. Consequently, penalties can add up quickly when there are widespread violation

time

Overtime: Are Mortgage Loan Underwriters Exempt ‘Administrative’ Employees?

Among the various “exemptions” from the overtime compensation requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are “administrative” employees. The question presented in a recent decision by the 9th Circuit—which covers Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington—was whether mortgage loan underwriters who work for lending banks fit the administrative exemption.