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Employers can find ways to turn negative feedback to positive outcomes

Most employers consider feedback from employees necessary, but those employers might wonder if that feedback has to feel so much like a necessary evil. When the feedback employees have to offer is negative, it can be tough for employers to stomach. But more and more employers are realizing that even when it’s negative, feedback can […]

Did Railroad Employee’s FMLA Claim Have Steam?

By Laurie Jirak, The Murray Law Group, P.C. The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota recently had to decide whether a railroad’s decision to terminate just one employee in a reduction in force was an unlawful retaliation against the employee for exercising his Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) rights.

Wine Before 9 Sends Employee to the Unemployment Line

By Martin J. Regimbal, The Kullman Firm Be careful if you take an adverse action against an employee who is using or has recently used FMLA leave. Claims of retaliation based on an employee’s protected leave are common under the FMLA. You must use the same care when you terminate someone who has exercised his […]

Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors (Part II): Administering New Leave Requirements

By Susan Schoenfeld, JD In February 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to implement Executive Order (EO) 13706, Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors. EO 13706 requires parties that enter into covered contracts with the federal government to provide covered employees with up to 7 days […]

What do you do now? The boss is the problem!

by Jo Ellen Whitney Being a business owner, supervisor, or boss doesn’t make you immune to bad behavior. Business owners, CEOs, and upper-level managers have been known to be bullies, behave badly, harass employees, and have affairs. There are certainly plenty of recent examples in the media. You can rarely open a popular magazine without […]

Think You Have Joint Employment Licked? Think Again.

In early 2016, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released an Administrator’s Interpretation addressing joint employment under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). In conjunction with this release, the DOL also issued a new fact sheet on the Family and […]