Archives

Calling Boss ‘Pervy Wanker’ on Facebook—Terminable Offense?

Careless employees end up getting terminated over their social media indiscretions; but HR managers can also wind up unemployed if they don’t handle social media issues carefully. Attorney Thomas Deer shares the risks on both sides of the coin. TAs a general matter, he says, employers face two sorts of risks relating to employee usage […]

Does Your Organization “GET IT”? How To Make Your Company “Cool”!

By Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed All we seem to hear in the news is the doom and gloom of unemployment and the continuation of the economic downturn in housing, industrial expansion and job growth.  On the other hand, there are still good news stories out there of companies that are expanding, hiring and growing.  And, even […]

Federal Court Rules Health Care Reform Provision Unconstitutional

Yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia held that the individual health insurance mandate provision found in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the comprehensive health care reform legislation that President Barack Obama signed into law in March 2010, is unconstitutional. The individual mandate would require most individuals to […]

DOL Announces ‘Bridge to Justice’ Attorney Referral System

It may soon be easier for employees to find private legal representation after the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) declines to pursue their Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) claims. This is thanks to a new collaboration between the WHD and the American Bar […]

Ruff Stuff: Pros, Cons of Bedbug Detection Dogs

Second of four parts For employers trying to figure out if their workplace has a bedbug problem, bringing in properly trained bedbug-sniffing dogs can be the best approach, especially if you have a large facility to check. But you’d be wise to do a little more digging yourself before signing a contract with the dog […]

How To Prevent Off-the-Clock Work

Yesterday we looked at 7 deadly timeclock sins that even conscientious employers are often guilty of. Today, we’ll look at attorney Sandra Rappaport’s tips for prevention. We’ll also tell you about a comprehensive wage/hour resource, specifically for California employers, that can help keep you out of trouble.

Workplace Harassment: Preventive Measures May Limit Liability

By Dominique Launay No doubt, workplace harassment remains a hot topic in Canada. Another Canadian province, Manitoba, has recently announced that it will join Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and the federal sector in requiring employers to provide protection from workplace harassment. Quebec employers have been required to deal with protections from psychological harassment since 2004. Their […]

Does Updating a Facebook Page Violate a Non-Compete?

In yesterday’s Advisor, we covered the stunning new NLRB stance on social networking; today, attorney Thomas Deer’s advice on dealing with social media and non-competes, plus an introduction to the one-stop HR solution center. Deer, a shareholder in the Chicago office of law firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC, was a featured speaker […]

Coming Soon: OSHA Vs. New House Majority on Enforcement

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) agenda to increase enforcement, which includes items such as ergonomics, noise standards, and an injury and illness prevention program, seems destined to run into resistance from the new Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. It’s fairly clear that changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Act […]

Bleeding Us Dry: Bedbugs Prove Pesky for Employers

First of a four part series Whether bedbugs happen to invade an office, a warehouse, school, library, hotel, or restaurant, they can be quite difficult to find and eradicate, more so than in the typical home. “In most cases [at work], there is no bed or sleeping area in which to focus a search for […]