Author: Susan Schoenfeld

Problems with Performance Appraisals

Were you surprised at the title to this article? Performance appraisals are usually discussed with an eye toward all of their various benefits, like improved productivity, keeping employees focused on goals, and aligning employees with the organizational vision. Indeed, there are arguments on both sides of this issue, and clearly both advantages and drawbacks abound. […]

New Things to Learn About FMLA

By Susan Schoenfeld, JD Just when you thought you’d finished learning all you could about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) releases some new material. Fortunately, BLR® Senior Legal Editor Susan Schoenfeld, JD, has the facts on the new poster and guidebook.

Getting Over the Hump: Why BLR Was Lucky Enough to Survive

From Dan: As a way to honor the individuals who have taught me critical life lessons about people and business, I’ve invited several to write guest columns to run in this space over the next few weeks. Today’s voice of experience once again is Robert L. Brady, the founder of Business and Legal Resources (BLR®). […]

Getting Over the Hump: Why BLR Was Lucky Enough to Survive

From Dan: As a way to honor the individuals who have taught me critical life lessons about people and business, I’ve invited several to write guest columns to run in this space over the next few weeks. Today’s voice of experience once again is Robert L. Brady, the founder of Business and Legal Resources (BLR®). […]

Prepare Now for Upcoming FLSA Exemption Changes

As most of us are well aware, there are some upcoming changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that will have an impact on millions of employers nationwide. Namely, the Department of Labor (DOL) is updating the requirements for employees to qualify for the “white collar” overtime exemptions.

Determining FMLA Eligibility: Impact of Supreme Court’s 2015 Same-Sex Marriage Decision

In the case of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave to care for a family member, once the employer has determined whether an individual employee is eligible for FMLA leave, many times the next hurdle is determining if the family member is covered by the FMLA. This determination has become somewhat more complicated as […]

Ask the Expert: How Much Bereavement Leave Should We Offer?

Is there benchmarking available for time off for bereavement/bereavement leave? There is no law requiring it, but most employers provide paid time off to employees when there is a death in the employee’s immediate family. Employers may set whatever bereavement leave policy they want. The policy should apply to all employees uniformly and be enforced […]

Does Pregnant Employee Have a Discrimination Claim?

By Beth Kahn and Timothy J. Toohey, Morris Polich & Purdy LLP A California employer fired a pregnant employee for violating its policy on reporting missing customer deposits. On appeal, the California Court of Appeal considered whether the employee had a claim for pregnancy discrimination and whether the employer had a legitimate reason for terminating […]