Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
McCarthy Tetrault If you have ever thought it wouldn’t be worth the cost to investigate an employee’s criminal misconduct, the recent decision in Canada Safeway Limited v. Brown, [2007] B.C.J. No. 2400 (S.C.) might make you reconsider. Not only was the employee ordered to pay back the money she stole, the judge tacked on six […]
According to the Kansas City Star, a local jury has awarded more than $2.1 million to Melissa Howard, who said she was passed over for a Kansas City judgeship because she was white. A county assistant prosecutor, she was one of three white women who were finalists for the position but claims that the Kansas […]
Remember when I said that being a jerk wasn’t illegal? Well, that may change. According to an article in the L.A. Times, legislatures in New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Washington are considering bills which would give employees the right to seek damages if their employer creates an “abusive work environment.” I’m not really sure […]
Litigation Value: $350,000 Employers who fail to fire employees who tape pepper spray canisters, nunchucks, and throwing stars to the bottom of their desks are playing with fire. Expensive fire. Sure, Roy started it, and I’m glad Dunder Mifflin fired him. But what about Dwight? After all, the man kept weapons at work for God […]
LITIGATION VALUE: $0.00 – $1,000,000+ (depending on how bad the car accident caused by a drunk Dunder Mifflin employee is) Having an open bar at an employee party with no way to limit alcohol consumption is not a great idea. Hosting a “booze cruize” on the Lake Wollenpaupack Princess in January with no way to […]
Litigation Value: $350,000 Phew – finally a new episode! While any episode of The Office is a good one, it’s nice to have new material to discuss. As always, the gang at Dunder Mifflin did not disappoint with this week’s super-sized episode. Employers who fail to fire employees who tape pepper spray canisters, nunchucks, and […]
Litigation Value: $500,000 If I were Kevin, I would start daydreaming about how to spend the windfall I will receive from the litigation lottery. Off the cuff, I’d guess that he has a great claim for damages after being forced to publicly disclose that he has anal fissures – especially if Dunder Mifflin later takes […]