Category: EntertainHR

Posts focus on what not to do in the workplace, based on examples from television, film, and other popular media.

Undercover Boss: Kylo Ren Style

With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker coming to theaters this holiday season, I was reminded of one of my favorite Saturday Night Live sketches in recent memory featuring a very special take on Undercover Boss. In the sketch, Kylo Ren goes undercover as “Matt,” a short-tempered radar technician. Hoping to enjoy “some real talk […]

arbitration

Will Player and Employee Empowerment Kill Arbitration Agreements?

Whether you follow sports or not, you have likely heard about the current state of professional sports, particularly the NBA, referred to as the era of “player empowerment.” And even if you aren’t familiar with this specific term, you likely know about the facts behind this trend. For example, last year, then-New Orleans Hornets superstar […]

retaliation

The Women of Amazon Studios’ The Boys Offer Lessons on Title VII Retaliation

Piggybacking off my colleague Tim Reed’s recent post providing the background/plot and discussing employer liability issues in Amazon Studios’ The Boys, I am happy to continue expounding upon the various employment law issues that arose in season one. The series presents an interesting and unique perspective on the emotional, legal, and monetary effects of the […]

family

A Family Affair

My civil procedure professor once quipped, “Family + Money + Death = Litigation.” In the case of HBO’s new series Righteous Gemstones, we thankfully don’t have any worries about death (so far, at least), but we do see hints that the family that works together won’t necessarily stay together.

Waiting On Dorian: HR Tips for Dealing With Employees Who Can’t Seem to Show Up On Time, or at All

Shiftless, unreliable, chronically late, and responsible for a startling reduction in workplace production and efficiency. No, I’m not referring to a disappointing new hire or an employee whose workplace performance has recently stalled. I’m talking about Hurricane Dorian. Here in Orlando, I’ve been hunkered down since the Friday before Labor Day waiting on Dorian. By […]

Even Among Friends, Office Affair Is OK … Until It Isn’t

This September will mark the 25th anniversary of the premier of Friends. It is hard to believe that it has been 25 years since we all pulled up a couch to relax at Central Perk and watch Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler, and Joey navigate their 20s in New York City. For this “episode” of […]

Amazon Studios’ The Boys Illustrates Potential Vicarious Liability for Employers

Warning: Contains spoilers for Amazon Studios’ The Boys. Within the past week or so, I started to watch an Amazon Studios television series called The Boys. Based on a comic book series of the same name, The Boys posits a world in which superheroes—referred to as “supes”—exist and are in the employ of global conglomerate […]

Carini: Phish, the Mysterious Lumpy Head Song, and Lessons for Employers

Phish, an American rock band founded at the University of Vermont, has garnered critical acclaim for its musical improvisation skills and extended instrumental sessions during its live performances since its 1983 formation. Despite several hiatuses, the band has continued to enjoy a devoted fan base willing to travel extensively for live performances and eagerly trading […]

Flaying Stranger Things at the Office

I’m happy to report that one of my favorite shows, Stranger Things, didn’t disappoint with Season 3. I’m even prouder to report that I now have both my sons absolutely hooked on the show. Spoiler alert: this article is loaded with spoilers!