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by Cathy Chandler In 2005, Ontario became the first jurisdiction in the world to enact proactive legislation designed to establish policies and programs to promote the provision of services to people with disabilities in five areas: customer service, employment, information and communications, public transportation, and design of public spaces. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities […]
The human resources department often finds itself in the position of mediating disagreements about thermostat settings, noise levels, perfume sensitivities, and an array of other workplace issues. But when employee preferences—or even prescriptions—intersect with the law, the job gets more challenging. Recently a group of attorneys was asked whether an employee’s use of aromatherapy at […]
Tennessee employees have a new option for suing their employer now that Governor Bill Haslam has signed a bill enabling workers to sue if they are fired for storing guns in cars parked in their employer’s parking lot. A 2013 law gave employees with handgun carry permits the right to store firearms and/or ammunition in […]
by Marianne Clendenen Among the many changes to employment policy and practice wrought by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), perhaps none is currently as hotly contested as the definition of “full-time employee” and the correlating “workweek.” Congress is considering amending the ACA to change what’s considered a “workweek” from 30 hours to 40 hours per […]
by Tammy Binford As the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) controversial “quickie election” rule moves a step closer to implementation, employers are being warned to be ready. On April 6, NLRB General Counsel Richard F. Griffin Jr. issued a 36-page guidance memo that outlines how new unionization efforts will be processed from the time a […]
by Dan Oswald Spring has sprung—at least here in Nashville where I live. It has been a brutal winter for most of the country, making spring even more attractive. My colleagues in the Northeast—especially in the Boston area—have endured the worst winter they’ve seen in decades. To them all I can say is that spring […]
The Comedy Central show Workaholics is currently in its fifth season of depicting a fresh (and hilarious) human resources nightmare week after week. The show is about three recent college dropouts (Blake, Adam, and Anders) who also happen to be roommates and coworkers at a fictional telemarketing company, TelAmeriCorp. To give you an idea of […]
by David G. Wong When is a suspension not a suspension? Sounds like the start of a bad joke. However, in a recent decision, the Supreme Court of Canada explained that in certain circumstances a suspension will be deemed to be a termination.
Employers tout the importance of an engaged workforce—a place where employees are devoted, eager, interested in their jobs and happy to boot. But how much of a payoff does a nominally engaged workforce provide? Can an engaged workforce still be steeped in drama that holds an organization back? Nicole Price, vice president of training for […]
The wage and benefit increases McDonald’s announced on April 1 put the fast-food giant on the same path retailer Wal-Mart took in February when it announced an increase in its starting wage. McDonald’s announced that beginning July 1, it will raise starting pay at company-owned restaurants to $1 over the locally mandated minimum wage. Full- […]