Tag: San Francisco

Public Employee Whistleblowers: Court OKs Lawsuit By Firefighter Terminated After Reporting Pornography On Station Computers

By Jennifer Carsen Aug 1, 2001 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

Whistleblowers have become increasingly common in the American workplace. These employees feel compelled to expose situations they consider wrong. And they risk being ostracized at work, or worse—being fired. A recent federal court decision affecting California once again underscores that both public and private employers should take the proper steps to avoid both liability and […]

News Notes: Court Upholds San Francisco Domestic Partner Law

By HR Daily Advisor Staff Jul 1, 2001 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld San Francisco’s landmark domestic partner benefits ordinance, which requires that companies doing business with the city must offer equal benefits to domestic partners and married spouses of employees. The court rejected a constitutional challenge by an Ohio company whose bid for a contract with the city was […]

News Notes: Largest Ever Gender Bias Suit Files Against Wal-Mart

By HR Daily Advisor Staff Jul 1, 2001 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

Wal-Mart is facing what could be the largest discrimination lawsuit ever brought against a private U.S. employer. Six female employees of Wal-Mart have filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco charging the retailing giant with widespread discrimination against women. They are asking that the case be certified as a class action on behalf […]

Employee Lawsuits: Workers’ Comp Release Barred Sexual Harassment Claim; 4 Tips You Can Use

By Jennifer Carsen Jun 1, 2001 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

Mary Jefferson, a teacher’s assistant for the California Youth Authority (CYA), said that a CYA teacher and his students regularly used derogatory language when referring to women, such as “bitch,” “whore” and “slut.” Jefferson filed a workers’ compensation claim, contending that she suffered work-related stress from a sexually hostile work environment. Jefferson also filed a […]

News Notes: NLRB Ruling Makes It Harder To Withdraw Union Recognition

By Jennifer Carsen Jun 1, 2001 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 19, 2015

In an important ruling for unionized employers, the National Labor Relations Board has overturned 50 years of precedent and changed the rules for employers who wish to withdraw recognition of a union that may have lost majority support. Under the old rule, an employer could withdraw recognition based on a good-faith belief that the union […]

News Notes: Worker Can Sue Employer Who Said He’d Go To Hell

By HR Daily Advisor Staff Apr 1, 2001 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

Del Erdmann said he quit his job as assistant director of nursing at Miguel Villa after owner/supervisor Velda Pierce repeatedly told him he would go to hell if he didn’t become a heterosexual and join the Mormon Church. Now a federal court in San Francisco has given Erdmann the green light to sue Miguel Villa […]

Noncompete Agreements: You Can Now Be Sued For Firing A Worker Who Refuses To Sign A Noncompete Agreement

By Jennifer Carsen Mar 1, 2001 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 19, 2015

Agreements that prohibit an employee from competing with you after leaving your employment are usually illegal. That’s because contracts that prevent someone from engaging in a lawful occupation are against public policy and are void in California. Now a California Court of Appeal has ruled that you can be sued for making it a condition […]