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Can Individual Managers Be Held Liable for Wrongful Discharge? The Answer May Surprise You

By Jonathan Mook Virtually all states recognize a common law tort claim of wrongful discharge in violation of a state’s established public policy. In most instances, a lawsuit alleging such a claim is brought solely against the plaintiff’s former employer. But may a suit be brought not only against the employer, but also against the […]

H-1B visa cap met in first week

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it reached the statutory H-1B visa cap of 65,000 for fiscal year 2014 during the first week of the filing period. This is the first time since 2008 that the cap has been met during the first week. The H-1B program allows U.S. businesses to employ […]

If California employer loses employee payroll records, what happens?

What happens if an employer loses their payroll records or other basic employee records in California? Basic records include things like payroll records, employee benefit plans, trusts, collective bargaining agreements, incentive plans, employee contracts, all employee notices, etc. Many laws require maintenance of these basic records. But how long must they be kept? And what […]

Do Your Employees Need Stress Management Training?

Whatever the cause, and however it manifests, workplace stress continues to be a problem—one that can cause reduced productivity, an increase in accidents, and a spike in costs. Stress Stats The American Psychological Association (APA) observes, “While stress levels appear to be balancing out, they remain high and exceed what Americans consider to be healthy.” […]

‘Trainee’ Informed She’s Not Entitled to Minimum Wage, Overtime

A salon in Queens will pay more than $5,000 to a manicurist after allegedly telling a worker she was a “trainee” and not entitled to minimum wage or overtime. The employer also informed the woman she would have to pay a deposit to work at the salon. According to a press statement by New York […]

New Way to Commute—It’s Not the Love Boat, It’s the Nerd Boat

Planes, trains, automobiles … and buses, subways, and vanpools. Mass transit is the enviro-friendly (and cost-conscious) way to get to work. Soon the list may include a new way for techies in the Big Apple to get to their jobs—they can take the “nerd boat” to DUMBO! Administration and the New York State Department of […]

Are College Alums Displacing High School Grads in the Workforce?

One-third of hiring managers and HR professionals said they are hiring more employees with college degrees for positions that were historically held by high school graduates, according to a recent CareerBuilder® survey. This hiring trend varies across industries: Financial Services—53 percent Healthcare—40 percent Manufacturing—38 percent Transportation & Utilities—37 percent Information Technology—33 percent Professional & Business […]

Sales Compensation Strategy: Cost of Sales vs Cost of Labor

Should your organization have a sales compensation strategy that focuses on tying salaries to the costs of the goods sold, such as a commission-only program or one with significant revenue or profit-based incentives? Or should you ensure your sales compensation strategy keeps your salesperson pay competitive in the marketplace, regardless of how much sales revenue […]

Q&A Session: Using Social Media in the Workplace

Using social media in the workplace without causing legal headaches can be complex. But the simple fact that social media is entwined in our lives makes it hard to escape. There are many benefits to be had, but also many risks. How can employers strike a balance? "Social media – like LinkedIn, Facebook, and all […]

Obama urges swift confirmation of new NLRB nominees

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), crippled by a January court ruling against two recess appointees, has the potential to get back to full strength if the Senate confirms nominations President Barack Obama made April 9. Previous attempts to fill the NLRB have failed over congressional opposition to Board actions and Obama’s nominees. On April […]