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Case Study—Poor Job Description Dooms Defense

Job descriptions aren’t just an administrative tool—they’re part of your lawsuit-fighting arsenal. Unfortunately, too many employers don’t realize that until it’s too late. In one recent case, the job description played an important role—one that was devastating to the defense. “Royce Madison,” an avid sportsman who worked at the Oakley Park District Fitness Center (OPFC), […]

Healthcare Reform: 10 Changes for Employers

As everyone knows by now, President Obama has just signed legislation that makes major changes to the healthcare system in the United States. Some of the changes will affect employers in significant ways — 10 of which are discussed below: 1. Employer Responsibilities. Beginning in 2014, the legislation will require an employer with more than […]

The Number One Lesson in Business

Recently, I spoke to a group of Vanderbilt University students. The university has a class for aspiring entrepreneurs that regularly brings in business owners to share their professional experiences. When I inquired what it was they would like me to speak about, my instructions were to “just tell your story and share the lessons you’ve […]

Happy Hour with Dunder Mifflin

Litigation Value: < $10,000 to settle the claims from Kevin’s inappropriate behavior; $50,000 in attorneys’ fees to deal with the ICE investigation for hiring an undocumented worker; potential untold damages for negligent hiring and retention if the friendly former surgeon later hurts someone like he did at his last employer. This week, Oscar wants to spend more […]

Workplace Investigations: Finding the Truth

by Toby Tiner, Jr. Editors’ note: This week we feature a guest article. The editors of Maine Employment Law Letter think you will benefit from the practical insights of their colleagues. They have worked alongside Toby on many tricky employee-relations cases, and his ability to find the truth while treating employees respectfully has impressed them. […]

Don’t Let Incompetent Bosses Stand in Your Way

By Bob Weinstein Editor-in-chief, Troy Media Corporation Just My E-Pinion According to a study conducted by the Society of Human Resource Management, 21 percent of employees quit their jobs because their boss is incompetent or difficult. It’s been said countless times: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bosses.” It’s hard working for an incompetent boss […]

Wage and Hour—No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

In yesterday’s Advisor, we featured lawsuit avoidance tips from Attorney William J. Anthony. Today, we’ll cover more of his wage and hour tips, and we’ll take a look at a unique one-stop solution for meeting HR challenges. Anthony made his remarks at a recent seminar sponsored by national law firm Jackson Lewis LLP, where he […]

7 Steps to Starting a Workplace Investigation

When an employee complains that a supervisor or co-worker is harassing or bullying them, or engaging in discriminatory or other illegal conduct, an investigation is often required to resolve the matter. However, few managers are trained in how to conduct them.

Employers May Be Eligible for Tax Break Under HIRE Act

The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act (H.R. 2847), a jobs bill President Barack Obama signed into law on March 18, 2010, provides tax breaks to employers that hire unemployed workers or individuals who were only working part-time in 2010. Under the HIRE Act, qualified employers could receive a payroll tax incentive and a […]

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Employment law attorney Michael Maslanka reviews Chip Heath and Dan Heath’s book Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, finding it both interesting and useful. Maslanka particularly focuses on the authors’ idea of fighting “the negative” by focusing on “bright spots.” In the book Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, […]