Empowering HR leaders with insightful content.
Mid-term election fever has swept the nation. Both sides of the aisle, as well as independents and libertarians in between, have campaigned harder than ever before for your vote. Smear ads and dramatic media depictions have become the norm, and many of us have become desensitized to the vitriolic turn politics has taken. Here are …
Continue reading “Mid-Term Election Fever: Coming to a Workplace Near You”
In a typical asset sale transaction, the purchaser takes great care to disclaim any responsibility for the seller’s business debts. When the seller is a sponsor of a defined benefit pension plan, this typically includes a disclaimer for any pension liability (e.g., unpaid plan contributions, PBGC premiums, and liability upon plan termination). The purchaser will …
With the issue of appropriate vs. inappropriate sexual conduct continuing to be the hot button topic, it is important to understand there is another related issue that remains front and center yet it remains silent, and that issue is retaliation. In terms of workplace sexual harassment as a claim in its own right, a brief …
Continue reading “In the #MeToo Era, Why Retaliation is the Scariest Word for Employers”
Every employer wants to hire qualified, motivated employees. Yet, the hiring process at many companies tends to be inconsistent and often results in engaging employees that fail to excel, or to even perform within acceptable parameters. Even worse, poor practices in the hiring process can result in costly litigation from discrimination claims, not only from …
Given the ever-expanding landscape of privacy laws and regulations, employers are becoming increasingly aware that they are responsible for data breaches caused by their employees. When looking to formally put obligations upon employees to modify employee conduct, employers tend to start with policy, such as in an employee handbook to allow a means of internal …
Continue reading “How Employers Can Handle their Biggest Threat to Data Privacy, Their Employees”
On April 2, 2018, the Supreme Court issued a ruling with narrow application, but it is significant because it likely signals a “new day” favorable to employers regarding how Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) is interpreted in the future. The FLSA, of course, is the law that requires the payment of overtime to “non-exempt” workers. …
With the news that Tiger Woods will be returning to the Memorial Golf Tournament, which is just a few miles from our Columbus, Ohio office, we thought a golf-related post would be interesting. This post concerns the recent case of Sharrow v. S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Case No.: 17-cv-11138 (E.D. Mich. Apr. 12, 2018), which not …
Continue reading “Facebook Evidence of Employee’s “Fore” Play Sinks FMLA Claim”
In the last year a number of states and major cities have passed laws prohibiting employers from obtaining past income/salary information from applicants. States with current legislation include California, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon. Cities with current legislation include: San Francisco; Chicago; New Orleans; New York City; Albany County, New York; Westchester, …
The European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect on May 25, 2018, so in less than 60 days. While many companies have been working to ensure compliance with respect to their customer and vendor data, one extremely tricky area that must not be overlooked is the GDPR’s application to employee/HR information. …
March and April will be critical months for employers who sponsor ERISA-governed employee benefit plans that provide benefits subject to the disability claim procedures. Any claims filed after April 1, 2018 will be subject to a new final rule issued by the Department of Labor (“DOL”) in December of 2016. Plans subject to these rules …