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News Notes: Employee Can Sue Despite Pre-Hire Warning About Co-workers’ Harassing Behavior

Warning a new employee that coworkers might behave offensively won’t get you off the hook for being sued for harassment. When Larhonda Williams interviewed for a receptionist position with Snyder Roofing and Sheet Metal, the company told her she would be exposed to coarse language on the job, and she said she could handle it. […]

Imminent Canadian federal election unlikely to affect labor law

by Karen Sargeant Americans are not the only ones going to the polls for a federal election this year. Canadians are on their way, too. Despite a planned federal election for October 2009, the Prime Minister just called a federal election, to take place on October 14, 2008. So how would this election affect labor […]

Employer Without Proper FMLA Policy and Procedures Must Face a Jury

The 6th Circuit—which covers Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee—recently ruled that an employee who was allegedly laid off while she was on leave covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was entitled to a jury trial because the employer’s lack of written policies left unresolved questions about her status. Read more.

Enforcement: California Has a New Labor Commissioner

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed a new labor commissioner, Angela Bradstreet, who previously served as the managing partner for San Francisco-based corporate law firm Carroll, Burdick & McDonough. As the new labor commissioner, Bradstreet will head up the Department of Industrial Relations, within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

What Tennessee Election Results Mean for Employers

By John B. Phillips, Jr. After the midterm elections, Tennessee’s congressional delegation will be made up of seven Republicans and two Democrats, a net gain of two seats for the GOP. Tuesday’s election continues Tennessee’s move toward a solid-red Republican state. Both U.S. Senators are Republicans, though neither was up for election this year. In […]

NLRB coming after employer’s blog/internet policy

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed a complaint against a Connecticut company, claiming that it illegally fired an employee for comments she made on Facebook. The complaint also alleges that the employer maintained an overly broad blogging and internet posting policy.

Keeping the boom going: Baby boomers continue strong hold on workforce

Today’s workers are likely to celebrate their 65th birthdays with a cake and a short gathering of coworkers in the break room – not with a big retirement party complete with the awarding of a gold watch. Retirement has taken on a new look, and employers must be ready for that trend to continue. The […]

Temporary Workers: Union Sues Ventura County For Using Temps

In the latest example of the trend toward challenging the use of temporary workers by government and private employers, Ventura County’s largest labor union, the Service Employees International Union, has sued the county. The union charges that the county paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in the past year to temporary workers in clerical, maintenance […]

Criticism in store for Obama’s choice for DOL

President Barack Obama’s choice of Thomas E. Perez for secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor is likely to face tough questions during the process of confirmation by the Senate. If confirmed, Perez will replace Hilda L. Solis, who stepped down as labor secretary in January after serving in the post four years. Foes of […]