Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
As we find ourselves in the last quarter of 2024, we felt it was right to go back to the basics for those navigating the complex landscape of employment law. Understanding these laws helps to protect your business from legal disputes and fosters a positive environment for employees while ensuring compliance and a fair and […]
Once upon a time, the employee’s workplace was entirely separate from their private life. No more. The two now bleed together, resulting in legal trouble for employers. Male Manager Targets a Female Colleague Lindsay Okonowsky worked as the sole staff psychologist at a federal prison on the West Coast. Lieutenant Steven Hellman supervised the prison […]
Question: We gave a $5,000 sign-on bonus to a new hire who has been a no-show for numerous days, and we haven’t been able to contact them. Can we withhold and/or deduct from this employee’s final paycheck to recoup some of the sign-on bonus? Answer: Most likely, no. Unless the employee signed an agreement giving you […]
One of the hardest things for employers is being accused of wrongdoing and, rather than reacting defensively, flipping it to their advantage. For an example of how to do so, let’s look to the University of Houston (UH) and how it handled a discrimination complaint from a disappointed professorship applicant. Professors Squabbling Kate Kingsbury applied […]
Ever hear the expression “loose lips sink ships”? It comes from WWII and was plastered on posters in port cities, warning that gabbing about the sailing times of vessels carrying materials and soldiers would endanger their safe sailing. I thought it fit a very recent case from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the […]
Recently, Connecticut significantly expanded its paid sick leave law. Among other changes, the law will apply to more (and eventually all) Connecticut employers and will allow employees to use paid sick leave for illnesses suffered by a broader array of family members. Original Paid Sick Leave Law Connecticut originally passed a paid sick leave law […]
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability. When employees request an accommodation, employers are required to engage in an interactive dialogue with them to determine whether the requested accommodation is reasonable and aimed at assisting the employees in performing their position’s essential functions. Employers […]
After nearly four years of court battles, Proposition 22—also known as the Protect App-Based Drivers and Services Act—has been upheld by the California Supreme Court. The voter-enacted law allows drivers for app-based transportation and delivery companies—also known as “network companies”—to be classified as independent contractors, as long as several conditions are met. Summary of Proposition […]
In a recent case, the U.S. Supreme Court decided a case in which a police sergeant alleged she was transferred from one job to a less desirable job in the police department because of her sex. About the Case The sergeant was transferred out of the intelligence division where she had worked for several years […]
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to automatic systems that use data to make decisions, predictions, or recommendations. AI provides great opportunities to improve many aspects of our lives—how we work, learn, and live. Nevertheless, there are both pros and cons to using AI in the workplace. Advantages include increased efficiency and productivity, innovation, and removing remedial […]