Tag: laws

The National Anthem: Let Them Stand or Make Them Stand?

It has been a long-standing tradition for championship sports teams to visit the White House and meet the president. Consistent with that tradition, the Philadelphia Eagles were invited to visit the White House on May 6, 2018, after they won this year’s Super Bowl. As it turns out, the visit never took place.

Consider Including These Key Terms in Your Well-Drafted Employment Agreements

You’ve found your ideal job candidate. The person has the skills and qualifications to perform well in the position you’re hiring him for, and he fits the mold and culture of your company. You’ve sent this person an offer of employment, and he has accepted. The offer may have provided a few details regarding the […]

Roseanne Barred from ABC: How to Protect Your Business from Social Media Meltdowns

Roseanne Barr, known for her big mouth and abrasive humor, is no stranger to controversy. (I still cringe when I recall her rendition of the national anthem.) Unfortunately for her, and the more than 200 people who worked on the successful 2018 reboot of her ’90s television series, no one was laughing when she went […]

PTO

Are Leave-Sharing Plans a Good Idea?

Q. We have employees who accrue paid time off (PTO) each pay period. A number of them don’t use all their PTO and would like to donate some of it to coworkers who have exhausted their own PTO. Does that violate any federal or state laws? Are there any special exceptions or issues we need […]

Pay Equity Laws 101

Providing equal pay for equal work to employees has been an ongoing concern for decades. Employers need to be particularly wary on this point because not only is pay discrimination illegal but also, it’s something that is subject to increased scrutiny right now, both in the media and by regulatory enforcement bodies like the Equal […]

Sexual Orientation

Is Sexual Orientation Protected by Federal Law?

The U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island—recently upheld a six-figure jury award for a firefighter’s “sex-plus” discrimination claim, ruling that federal antidiscrimination law extends protections to gay and lesbian workers in cases where they claim discrimination based on both their gender and sexual orientation.

ban the box

Ban the Box Now: More the Rule than Exception when Screening

Ban the box laws that remove the box on applications that job applicants are asked to check if they have a criminal record are now more the rule than the exception for Human Resources professionals when screening applicants. As of March 2018, 30 states and more than 150 cities and counties have ban the box […]

minimum wage

Can Local Governments Set Higher Minimum Wage Than the State?

Throughout the country, much has been made of varied initiatives to increase the minimum wage from its current level under federal law to higher levels. Many commentators frequently propose $15 an hour as the new minimum wage, and some municipalities throughout the country have enacted local ordinances to push their minimum wage higher than the federal […]