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Beware the Perils of Firing Employee-Shareholders

By Stephen Acker and Julia Kennedy As we have repeatedly reported, courts are finding new ways to put money in former employees’ pockets in Canada. Another example is the Ontario Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Link v. Venture Steel Inc. and Ruben Rivas, where it agreed with the trial judge’s decision awarding a former […]

Wage and Hour Simple? I Don’t Think So

Many of the uninitiated do think compensation’s simple, but those same people keep paying out on million-dollar suits. In yesterday’s Advisor, we featured three million-dollar wage and hour lawsuits. Today, two more suits and an introduction to a unique source of compensation solutions that might just help you avoid a million-dollar suit. Oriental Forest Will […]

Migraine, or FMLA Headache?

Management of leaves under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) isn’t such a headache if you work out your policies carefully, publicize them to employees, and enforce them consistently, says Beverly Kish, SPHR. Kish is director of Human Resources at National Flight Services.

Maintaining Your Competitive Edge

You should encourage and manage diversity in your workplace — not because it’s politically correct (and the right thing to do), but because it helps you improve and maintain your competitive advantage. Today’s fast-paced business world and ever-changing technology have taken employers beyond traditional boundaries, sometimes forcing you to adjust to differences in culture quickly. […]

Does Banishing Scents Make Sense at Work?

It seems that the number of people with allergies or sensitivities to various scents and smells has grown substantially. Some of those allergies can be severe, causing severe respiratory difficulties and other serious health issues. Questions continue to arise about the often competing rights of allergic employees and coworkers who wish to be able to […]

DOL Examines English Proficiency Project

The Department of Labor (DOL) has released a report evaluating its Limited English Proficiency and Hispanic Worker Initiative project.The program was launched in 2006 with $4.9 million awarded to organizations in California, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, and Texas so they could test innovative strategies for delivering language and employment services to limited English proficient and […]

Lawyer Who Denied Access to Service Dog Gets Bit

By Keeya M. Jeffrey The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado recently approved a consent decree resolving a lawsuit filed by the Colorado Department of Justice against a Colorado Springs lawyer who refused to allow a woman, her husband, and her lawyer access to his office for a deposition because the woman brought […]

A Wage/Hour Story Told in Million-Dollar Lawsuits

Wage and hour cases often seem piddling—what are a few hours of overtime here and there? But add in other class members (hundreds, thousands?), years (2 or 3?), and damages, and there’s quite a tidy sum you might owe. Here are several recent cases, each with something to teach about managing wage and hour difficulties. […]

Your Company Benefits When It Supports the Community

Forgive me for bragging, but I’ve got a group of fantastic coworkers. Many of them were in action again this morning. You see, some of our people volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House here in Nashville today. As I write this, they’ve already served breakfast to the families staying there and another team will be […]

Why Wait for the EEOC? Expert Clarifies ADAAA Requirements

Nearly two years after Congress passed the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced recently that employers should not expect to see new regulations providing a more detailed explanation of the law’s requirements anytime soon. To understand the reasons for the delay and how it may affect employers, we spoke with […]