Author: Tammy Binford

False assumptions, ill-advised questions just a few hiring hazards to avoid

Ever finish interviewing a job candidate and wonder if you’ve asked enough questions—or maybe asked too many? Worse, do you wonder what problematic questions others involved in the hiring process may have asked? The human resources department probably trains managers on the do’s and don’ts of interviewing, but in spite of that training, hiring managers […]

Overtime law changing for Oregon manufacturing employers

Much of a new law affecting overtime pay in mills, factories, and manufacturing facilities in Oregon will take effect on January 1. In most circumstances, employers in Oregon must pay overtime wages after an employee has worked 40 hours in a week, but mills, factories, and manufacturing facilities also face a daily overtime requirement after […]

Holiday season and winter weather: employer mini survival kit

by Shawntel Hebert The month of December is here, and depending on your industry, you may find your company in a very busy or fairly slow period. Whether you’re busy or slow, December also brings holiday festivities and the onset of winter weather. In the midst of planning for holiday staffing and preparing for inclement […]

January 1 is key date for New York paid family leave law

by Angelo D. Catalano Employers in New York need to be ready to provide paid family leave (PFL) to eligible employees as of January 1. The PFL law, signed into law in April 2016, allows eligible full- and part-time employees to take payroll-deducted paid leave for qualifying circumstances such as a serious health condition of […]

Coaching reVOL-UTion: Schiano, Currie, and what school’s lawyers are analyzing right now

The Tennessee coaching search has produced high drama over the past two weeks. For Vol fans like myself, it has felt at times like absolute torture and at other times like just a little bit of torture. “Vol-nation” was in better spirits after the hiring of Phillip Fulmer as Athletic Director was announced, and many are pleased with […]

Spend your time on what is most important

by Dan Oswald Time is a limited resource. No matter how hard you try, you can’t pack more hours into a day. There are 24 hours each and every day, and there is simply nothing you can do to change that. Time just rolls on. How often do you catch yourself wishing you had more […]

Alberta workers’ compensation: a refocus

by Theodore Fong This year has seen many developments in the labor and employment fields in Canada. One recent development concerns the Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), one of several public agencies across Canada to administer an insurance plan for injured or ill workers. Its no-fault insurance system has been in place for nearly a […]

New minimum wage, paid sick leave requirements for Washington

by Cate DeJulio and Stephanie Holstein Employers in Washington will be required to comply with a new minimum wage and offer paid sick leave beginning January 1, 2018. Minimum wage As a result of Initiative Measure (IM) 1433, approved by voters in November 2016, the state’s minimum wage will rise to $11.50 an hour on […]

But my employees aren’t unionized! A trap for the unwary

by William J. Evans “But my employees aren’t unionized!” is a frequent exclamation uttered by employers when they learn they’ve been charged with violating their nonunion employees’ Section 7 rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). It’s a surprisingly little-known fact that the NLRA applies equally to union and nonunion workers. Accordingly, nonunion employers […]

Holiday party tips for employers

by Bonnie M. Boryca The end of the year brings various obligations for employers, along with the opportunity to spread holiday cheer to employees, whether it’s through end-of-year bonuses, time off from work, or company-hosted holiday parties. Unfortunately, examples of litigation arising out of holiday parties are not hard to find. Company-sponsored parties frequently lead […]