Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The California Industrial Welfare Commission recently took long-awaited action regarding a controversial opinion letter about salary docking for exempt employees. Here’s what happened.
Three unskilled laborers who were hired to clean a film lab at Metrocolor Laboratories in Los Angeles sued, claiming Metrocolor told them to use a particular cleaning substance without revealing that it contained hazardous chemicals that can cause brain and nervous system damage. The workers’ skin became soaked with the liquid as it rained down […]
Many employers try to combat workplace bias with diversity programs that emphasize company commitment to respecting differences, such as sexual orientation. But suppose an employee refuses to participate in a diversity training program, citing religious or political beliefs. Can you discipline the worker? In a recent case, an employer faced just this situation. We’ll provide […]
Workplace stress plagues the American workforce. Recent surveys suggest that 40% of workers find their jobs to be “very stressful” and 26% are often burned out by them. The economy’s recent downturn makes matters even worse: workers may feel a need to prove their value at the same time that supervisors are being forced to […]
Employer Survey: Most Employers Have A Workplace Violence Policy But Few Provide Training
Managing employees with mental disabilities can be challenging—especially when the workers pose a threat to others’ safety. If you take preemptive action, you can get sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but if you don’t, you risk the tragic consequences of a violent incident. Two recent cases provide guidance on how to handle potentially […]
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, compensation discrimination is still a very real workplace problem. Now, the EEOC has issued comprehensive new guidelines for when pay differentials are and are not legal. Here are the highlights.
Under changes to the state disability discrimination law that took effect January 1, you can be sued for failing to cooperate with a disabled employee to determine whether they need a reasonable accommodation and to explore available options. A new California Court of Appeal decision provides more detail on how you and the disabled employee […]
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently issued new guidelines explaining how federal employment discrimination laws apply to employee benefits. Last month we examined the rules regarding age discrimination. This month we look at the EEOC guidelines dealing with disability and pregnancy discrimination.
A bill just signed by Gov. Davis significantly raises the stakes in harassment cases by making all employees who harass co-workers potential targets of a lawsuit. We’ll focus on how the law has changed and the impact it may have on you and your workers.