Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Agreements to arbitrate employment disputes are more popular than ever with employers because they can help avoid expensive and risky litigation. They are also controversial because some believe it’s unfair to require employees to agree in advance to submit employment claims to arbitration, giving up the right to a jury trial and potentially huge damages. […]
The basic rule in California is that employees can quit or be fired at any time, with or without cause. If you’re like most employers, you’ve reinforced this concept by including “at-will” statements in your employee handbooks and application forms. But you could find yourself on the wrong end of an employee lawsuit if your […]
When you’re faced with the prospect of disciplining or discharging an employee, you may give the worker several different reasons for your decision. However, a new case points out the importance of getting your story straight before you terminate someone. That’s because if you provide conflicting explanations, you may inadvertently give the employee an opening […]
Following years of controversy and false starts, historic workplace ergonomics rules aimed at reducing repetitive motion injuries are in effect as of July 3, 1997. Certain employers whose workers have repetitive motion disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis will have to implement a specific ergonomics program to eliminate or minimize the injury risk.
Discrimination lawsuits doubled between 1992 and 1996, according to a new report from the U.S. Courts’ Administrative Office. And the problem is likely to get worse. In May, we reported that employers paid record amounts to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) over the last few years. Now top EEOC lawyers have promised to step […]
One in five human resource executives reported a violent workplace episode, according to a new survey of Southern California employers by Thomas Staffing Services in Irvine. Respondents expressed the most concern over fist fights, guns, and obscene or threatening phone calls. Nearly all believed preventive measures such as pre-employment screening, tighter security and employee hotlines […]
If your company pays more than $50,000 in annual payroll taxes, you must start paying electronically by July 1 or incur steep penalties. The IRS says about 230,000 employers nationwide are not yet prepared. You can use a commercial payroll service or one of the two deposit options offered by the IRS: 1) making […]
Martin Marietta Corp. has agreed to pay $13 million to settle an age discrimination lawsuit filed by the EEOC on behalf of thousands of former employees who were laid off. The company also agreed to rehire 450 eligible employees who took part in the lawsuit and to make future layoff decisions under EEOC scrutiny over […]
A systems administrator has been ordered to serve one year in jail for destroying computer files worth $237,550 at Digital Link, a Sunnyvale engineering firm. An Chi Tran quit his job after his supervisor gave him a written reprimand. The company then changed its passwords to block his access to its central computer system. But […]
How you respond to an employee’s announcement that she’s pregnant can present an array of legal pitfalls. You can get into trouble not only for overt discrimination, but also for seemingly well-intentioned efforts to protect her from stress or other hazards.