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Employment Law Tip: Leave for Victims of Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault

In California, an employer with 25 or more employees is prohibited from discharging or in any way discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault because that person takes time off from work for any of these reasons: to seek medical attention for injuries caused by the […]

Independent Contractors: Maid Company to Pay Big for Misclassification

A federal judge has ordered Southern California Maid Services and Carpet Cleaning, based in Gardena, to pay $3,467,789 in back wages, plus $1,058,973 in liquidated damages, to 385 current and former low-wage domestic workers who were misclassified as independent contractors. The court’s action resolves a lawsuit filed against the employer by the U.S. Department of […]

Sexual Harassment: Same-Sex Harassment Case Settles for $1.8 Million

United Healthcare of Florida, Inc., has agreed to shell out $1.8 million in back pay and damages to resolve a same-sex harassment and retaliation lawsuit. The suit, filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), charged that a male regional vice president subjected a male senior account executive at the company’s Sunrise, Fla., office […]

Annual BLR Survey Results: How Big Will Raises Be in 2008?

BLR’s exclusive survey says that once again, the byword will be “no more than four.” And if you want more detail, we’ve got that, too. Fall is traditionally when organizations plan next year’s budget. A key component—in many cases, the key component—is how small or large a wage increase to plan for your people. One […]

The “Antidiscrimination Bond”: Can It End Discrimination Suits at Your Company?

A B-school professor proposes an “antidiscrimination bond,” a tool that would screen out persons likely to sue you for discrimination before they’re ever hired. Would you use it? Since the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, governmental power has been directed at ending discrimination in the workplace. In a possible ironic twist, […]

Welcome to Northern Exposure

Welcome to the introductory issue of Northern Exposure. This new e-zine and blog highlights important developments in Canadian labor and employment law and will be of special interest to companies with operations in Canada. In addition to news articles, the blog and e-zine will include practical Employer’s Tips and Q&As to help you better understand […]

Electronic Security: iPods and Other Portable Devices Pose Serious Data Security Threat; Prevention Tips

iPods and similar portable media devices—such as iPhones, other cell phones, and USB flash drives—have become ubiquitous in our society. And concern is growing in the corporate world that because these devices can be used for much more than just listening to music, employees’ use of them in the workplace could pose a big threat […]

Dunder Mifflin Infinity

Litigation Value: $600,000 (eventually) One day soon, when all is said and done, Ryan’s comments are going to cost Dunder Mifflin about $600,000. Maybe more. Managers really should know better than to tell employees that the company is launching a new technology initiative for a “younger” and “more agile” company. They really should know better […]

No Issue Goes Unresolved …

By Dan Moran Just My E-pinion People are, I think by design, procrastinators. Why do today what you can do tomorrow? In part I think this has lead to a practice by managers of people — and some HR professionals as well: Let it be, the issue will go away… I am amazed how often […]