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What Are the Rules for Mixed-Motive Bias in California?

In early 2013, the California Court of Appeals ruled in favor of an employee in a so-called “mixed-motive” case (when an employer has both unlawful and legitimate reasons for taking an adverse employment action) brought under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

Court sends supervisor to jail

By Antonio Di Domenico We know that Canadian courts are increasingly more willing to impose significant six- and seven-figure fines on employers convicted of criminal workplace negligence or occupational health and safety violations. Indeed, we reported on two recent examples—Vale Canada Limited and Metron Construction—where the companies were given record fines in these types of […]

Employment Law Alert: San Francisco’s Ban the Box Ordinance

Effective August 13, 2014, San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant’s criminal history, including inquiries on an employment application form. This prohibition, often called a “ban the box” provision, applies to private employers, city contractors, and subcontractors with 20 or more employees. Covered employers may ask about an applicant’s criminal history after the first live interview (in person or via telephone or other technology) or after a conditional job offer. A notice describing the protections provided under the ordinance will be developed by the city’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE). Employers are required to post the notice and to send a copy to any labor union with which they have a collective bargaining agreement.

Need Videos for Your Supervisory Training?

A manager or supervisor who wants to terminate an employee should avoid taking hasty action. They should first determine whether there are any reasonable, less-drastic alternatives to firing the employee. But even if they’re sure termination is the best course of action, it’s generally better to let a group—including HR as well as other managers […]

The 14 Qualities of Great Leaders

In today’s Advisor, business and leadership blogger Dan Oswald offers his thoughts on qualities of great leaders. (Oswald, CEO of BLR® offers these thoughts weekly in The Oswald Letter.) Marvin Bower joined McKinsey & Company in 1933 and served as the management consulting firm’s managing partner from 1950 to 1967. In 1997, he published a […]

Changes To California Mixed-Motive Rules

Yesterday, we looked at the case of a California employee, Lorena Alamo, who successfully established that her termination was due to improper “mixed motives” (the employer had both unlawful and legitimate reasons for the firing).

Rumor has it . . . the NLRB is cracking down on no-gossip policies

by Christopher J. Pyles Apologies to Adele, but the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has whispered some words in my ear that tell a story employers won’t want to hear. People may say crazy things ― and the NLRB won’t let a “no-gossip” policy stop them.   Pssst, did you hear? By now, most employers are […]

Northwestern’s appeal of football ruling claims NLRB ignored evidence

Northwestern University’s appeal of a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling claims an NLRB regional director ignored evidence that the school’s scholarship football players are students—not employees—and relied too much on the testimony of a single player. On April 9, the private university located in Evanston, Illinois, asked the full NLRB to review and overturn […]

Increase HIPOs’ Risk and Reward, But Beware Discrimination

Yesterday’s Advisor offered tips for handling the difficult situation in which high potential (HIPO) employees low on the career ladder are antsy because Boomers won’t retire. Today, more tips, plus an introduction to the unique guide just for HR “Lone Rangers”—the one-person HR departments. Here are some more tips for managing HIPO employees: Increase risk […]