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DesperateHousewives Star’s Wrongful Termination Case has Implications for Employers

A still-unfolding Hollywood squabble has a few lessons on how to end employment relationships. Actress sues over nonrenewal Touchstone Television Productions hired Nicollette Sheridan to appear in the first season of Desperate Housewives. Its contract gave Touchstone the exclusive option to renew her services each year for an additional six seasons. On exercising its renewal […]

Current Legal Trends Affecting Job Descriptions: ADA, FMLA, and Workers’ Comp

“Job descriptions have a place in so many aspects of workplace law,” Charlie Plumb advised in a recent BLR webinar. Meeting ADA requirements is often top-of-mind since the accommodation process starts with outlining the essential functions of the job, but job descriptions are also impacted by other employment laws, like the Family and Medical Leave […]

3 Benefits of a Job Rotation Program

Why should you implement a job rotation program? What results will you have? Perhaps you’re trying to implement a job rotation program and need management buy-in—how does such a program fit into your overall HR strategy? Job rotation programs can impact an organization in a number of ways. Some of the biggest benefits come from […]

Hollywood Blockbuster Leaves Employee Unable to Go to Work

What’s the weirdest excuse you’ve heard from an employee to explain why they didn’t show up to work? How about they were too upset over a PG-13 movie?   At least one worker has used that excuse, according to a recent CareerBuilder survey. The employee claimed to be distraught after watching Suzanne Collins’s best seller […]

Top Recruiting Challenge? Low Salaries, Relocation?

Some other interesting findings: Along with referrals from current employees, jobs boards of various types are the dominant sources for finding new employees, 19% of recruiters visit candidates’ social media pages One third of employers do Google or similar searches on candidates Top challenges of recruiting include: Attracting candidates when low salaries are offered Relocation […]

What is intermittent leave and how is it calculated?

What is intermittent leave? Are employers required to provide it? The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) provide legal rights for eligible employees to take up to 12 work-weeks of job-protected time off in a 12-month period (and 26 work-weeks for servicemember leave). This time off may be […]

Must Charter Cities Comply with California Prevailing Wage Law?

Eighty-one years ago, California passed a law requiring contractors on “public works” projects to pay the general prevailing rate of wages to all workers. One year later, the California Supreme Court determined that wage rates for workers on locally funded public works projects are a “municipal affair” and not subject to California’s prevailing wage law.

Workplace computer porn: court rules employees’ privacy rights limit police

by Jennifer Shepherd On October 19, 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) issued its ruling in R. v. Cole. The court held that a person’s right to be protected against unreasonable searches was breached when the police looked at computer files the employer had given them without first obtaining a search warrant. Facts A […]

Big Job Boards Are Now the #1 Recruiting Source

Along with referrals from current employees, jobs boards of various types are the dominant sources for finding new employees, according to a recent survey conducted by Monster.com and BLR’s HR Daily Advisor and HRhero Line. Some other interesting findings: 19% of recruiters visit candidates’ social media pages One third of employers do Google or similar […]

Church Music Director Is Minister, So Court Blocks Employment Discrimination Suit

A Catholic church’s music director is a “minister” and therefore ineligible to bring employment discrimination claims against the Church, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, implementing a new U.S. Supreme Court precedent.  Phillip Cannata worked as the music director for St. John Neumann Catholic Church, part of the Catholic Diocese of Austin. He […]