Author: Tammy Binford

Right-to-work advocates dealt blow in Missouri

by Tammy Binford Missouri’s new right-to-work law, which was supposed to take effect August 28, is on hold after opponents of the measure submitted petitions to put the law up for a voter referendum in November. The state legislature passed the law, and Governor Eric Greitens signed it in February, but on August 18, unions […]

Don’t put off until tomorrow what you SHOULD do today

by Dan Oswald Benjamin Franklin once said, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” It’s good advice for all of us. Last month, I lost my brother-in-law in a tragic accident. He was just 47. Last week, I lost a friend, also in a tragic accident. He was only 55. Ironically, both […]

Say it ain’t so: Simply stating document is ‘privileged’ doesn’t mean it is

by Hannah Roskey and Katie Clayton Maintaining the privilege of a document is a fundamental aspect of any litigation. The Canadian legal system is premised on the search for truth, which, by default, requires parties to disclose relevant documents to one another in the course of litigation. This is the case in traditional civil actions […]

Reeling from recordkeeping? Sound strategy makes the task manageable

A seemingly vast array of laws requires employers to create and store an equally vast array of records, and keeping up with the task is enough to make anyone’s head spin. The chore is less daunting, though, with some advice and a plan. Ryan A. Olson, an attorney with the Felhaber Larson law firm in […]

Gig

Gambling on independent contractor status? Stack the deck in your favor

by Gary S. Fealk Smart businesspeople are adept at finding ways to reduce their costs. However, cutting costs associated with employment by using independent contractors is a big risk unless you take great care to make sure you aren’t misclassifying employees as independent contractors.  What’s all the fuss about? Various government agencies have been increasingly […]

Good company culture is essential to a business’ success

by Dan Oswald “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” It’s a statement attributed to Peter Drucker, the famed management guru, and a concept that many business leaders ascribe to. I like to quote it, and I want to believe it, but is it true? There are great companies that have a great culture. I like to […]

Solar eclipse guide for employers

Today’s solar eclipse is expected to be an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with people from all over flocking to the path of totality.  While this will likely mean considerable economic benefits from tourism, it is also expected to be quite costly for employers.  According to an estimate by outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas, this afternoon’s […]

When working notice just doesn’t work

by Jacqueline Gant For employers shutting down operations, providing working notice is often the best way to reduce severance amounts owed. Except when it’s not. In McLeod v. 1274458 Ontario Inc., an Ontario court confirmed that working notice is appropriate only for employees capable of working during the notice period. Facts The employer sold furniture […]

executive

Firestorm over Google memo putting ‘diversity of thought’ in spotlight

What was meant to be an internal memo written by a male engineer at Google hit the internet in a big way in early August, igniting controversy that led to the employee’s firing and much discussion about the effectiveness of corporate diversity efforts.  The now-infamous memo raises questions on many fronts. Among them: Does it […]

Violent culture, violent workplaces

Mark I. Schickman The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported an increase in work-related gun violence for each of the past 10 years. There were 417 workplace homicides in America in 2015; guns were used in 354 of them. In 2017, the epidemic continues. The workplace reflects the nation: More than 100 people […]