Author: Bruce Cross, Perkins Coie LLP

Circuit

Showing Favoritism to Paramour Isn’t Unlawful Sex Bias Under Title VII

Although supervisory favoritism toward a paramour may be unfair and ill-advised, it isn’t illegal sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all Washington employers). Facts William Maner worked in a medical research laboratory operated by Dignity Health […]

Vaccine Passports: Privacy Risks, Implementation Problems

Since the onset of the pandemic, the concept of COVID-19 “passports” has been a recurring and controversial component in the process of reopening the economy. While it has become perhaps commonplace in the hospitality industry, proving vaccination status may soon be a de facto requirement for millions more U.S. workers—not just those working in customer-facing […]

Technology Run Amok: Client Left Holding Bag After Key E-Mail Sits in Lawyer’s Junk Folder

Well, the headline might be a bit dramatic, but it illuminates an important point. Namely, technology must be used in conjunction with good judgment and common sense, not as a stand-alone panacea. Lawsuit Filed, or Was It? Kevin Rollins, a Home Depot employee, injured himself while moving a bathtub for his employer. He filed a […]

interview

5 Red Flags to Look for in Interviews

Interviewing a potential new employee? It can be an exciting, nerve-racking process. You’re hoping to find the right person to fill your role, and you probably have multiple people to choose from. You’re simultaneously trying to find top talent and impress them while trying to be authentic and get a true vision of who someone […]

How HR Managers Can Help Employees with Financial Issues

Human resources is a field dedicated to providing businesses with the tools they need to manage a healthy and happy workforce. Workers face all kinds of challenges that can impact safety and productivity on the job. By being there to help employees navigate the problems they’ll encounter as they work, HR teams have the invaluable […]

8th Circuit Denies Relief for Female Employee Paid Less for Choosing to Do More

A female employee wasn’t discriminated against for receiving less compensation than her male coworkers when she voluntarily chose to complete tasks that weren’t required of her, according to the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all Nebraska employers), upholding a Nebraska federal district court decision. Facts Barbara Perry, a former employee […]

How Leaders Can Build a Culture That Has Substance and Drives Success

We all talk about company culture and have a general sense of what it is, but coming up with a clear definition can be difficult. Some will describe culture as the personality of an organization or the way people interact and relate to each other. Others think culture means the shared beliefs and norms that […]

Faces of HR: Don’t Be Afraid to be Uncomfortable

With National Hispanic Heritage Month well underway, it’s a great time to shine a light on the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans who have inspired others to achieve success. The guest of this edition’s Faces of HR profile is an exceptional example of just that. For more than a decade, Janine Ting Jansen, Senior […]

New NLRB General Counsel Identifies Possible Changes

Those of you who have watched the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)—the nation’s primary enforcer of labor law—over the years no doubt expect it to reshuffle its priorities when the White House changes parties. The Board swore in Jennifer Abruzzo as its new general counsel (GC) on July 22, 2021, and three weeks later, she […]

Shaping the Future of HR: How Businesses Can Invest in Timekeeping Technology to Evaluate Workplace Productivity and Streamline Day-to-Day Operations

COVID-19 changed the way businesses in every industry operate, leaving many companies to grapple with the challenges and lessons learned over the past year. Now, as the country stands on the precipice of life after the pandemic, HR representatives are adopting emerging technologies to overhaul daily business operations as they turn to the next phase […]