Time for Contractors to Prepare for New $15 Minimum Wage Rule
A new proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) pushes a $15-an-hour minimum wage for certain federal contractors deeper into the pipeline.
Category: HR Management & Compliance
There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.
Reminder to Employers: Be Consistent with Similarly Situated Employees
A recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan illustrates how important it is to treat similarly situated employees similarly.
Taking on Mental Health Challenges Post-Pandemic
Until relatively recently, companies that focused meaningfully on their employees’ mental health were few and far between. Employees who struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, or other mental health issues were largely expected to manage those issues outside of work or face the possibility of being seen as not “cut out” for the job.
Determining Work Restrictions When Hiring Minors
Question: We are a moving and storage company, with offices in multiple states. If we were to hire minors (say 16 or 17), are there any limitations to the hours and duties they could perform?
6th Circuit: BFOQ Defense Bars Female Correction Officer’s Sex Bias Claims
The bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) defense barred a female corrections officer’s sex discrimination claims because the county employer had proven its two-female policy was both reasonably necessary and legally required, the 6th Circuit recently ruled.
Employee May Still Be Entitled to Bonus After Watching Pornography at Work
After being terminated for watching pornography on his work computer during work hours, a former employee sued for breach of contract, and the employer countered by asking the court for summary judgment. The case couldn’t be dismissed without a trial, however, because there is a possibility the company fired him to avoid paying a retention […]
The Future of the In-Person Office
As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, there is less and less of a need for employers to maintain the remote work policies many have had in place for well over a year. Still, employee expectations and preferences are pushing many employers to consider permanent remote work or at least hybrid arrangements, and those employers did not […]
6th Circuit Amends Damages Award in Fired Undocumented Worker Case
An employer can’t be held liable for back pay for a state law retaliation claim during a period when the former employee lacked lawful immigration status to work in the United States, the 6th Circuit (which covers Kentucky and Tennessee employers) recently ruled. The appellate court affirmed, however, the employer could be found liable for […]
WV Jobs Protection Act Reopens Doors by Shielding Liability for COVID-19
From layoffs to leave laws, mandated vaccinations to limitations on services or materials, almost every business has been affected by COVID-19 in some way over the last year. The concern that has been top of mind for nearly all employers, however, is how to keep your employees safe from the virus and your business safe […]