Author: Tammy Binford

Employers can learn lessons from DOL’s FLSA woes

Many thought it ironic in mid-August when news broke that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) had agreed to a $7 million settlement in a 10-year-old dispute with its own employees and their union. The same agency charged with policing how employers comply with the wage and hour law apparently had compliance problems of its […]

Occum's

What did Ryan Lochte do? 8 tips for waterproof investigations

Despite the conclusion of the 2016 Summer Olympics, Ryan Lochte is still “under water” with questions still looming after Rio police reports that the American gold-medal Olympian fabricated a story about being robbed at gunpoint in Brazil. Lochte initially reported that he and three other U.S. swimmers—James Feigen, Jack Conger, and Gunnar Bentz—were robbed at gunpoint […]

Hassle-free border crossings: What to do before U.S. national makes application at Canadian port of entry

by Gilda Villaran In 2015, a number of changes were announced to the procedures at Canadian ports of entry. Unfortunately, there continues to be a lack of awareness about these changes on the part of many U.S. companies that occasionally assign employees to work in Canada. As a result, some companies have been caught off […]

Do you have a Weiner in your workplace? Disciplining employees for off-duty misconduct

by Lauren E.M. Russell The most fortuitously named figure in modern politics is embroiled in yet another scandal: Former Congressman Anthony Weiner is back in the news because of a third round of sexting allegations. He has been suspended or terminated from two freelance writing positions because of the recent allegations against him. While a […]

Is work or pleasure taking you abroad?

by Elaine Young Here is a look at the various issues that may come up when you need to visit another country for work. Or for vacation! Passports How many times have we received a call from someone who is about to depart on a business trip and realizes that her U.S. passport has expired? […]

Massachusetts adds veteran status as a protected class

by Susan G. Fentin Now that a new Massachusetts law adding veteran status as a protected class under the state’s antidiscrimination law is in effect, employers need to take a look at their employee handbook provisions related to veterans.    At the end of the last legislative session, the Massachusetts Legislature passed An Act Relative to […]

Step up and make a difference in someone’s life

by Dan Oswald Early last year, Yesenia Diosdado, just 11 years old, got off her school bus near her home in Lexena, Kansas. As the bus pulled away, Yesenia noticed that a three-car accident had occurred at a busy nearby intersection. Police and emergency workers were on the scene attending to the victims. Yesenia wandered […]

White Paper on DOL’s new ‘blacklisting’ rule now available

Attorneys with Fortney & Scott, LLC, in Washington, D.C., who edit Federal Employment Law Insider, sprang into action after the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued final regulations on August 25 implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order—often called the “blacklisting” rule. The controversial rule will require federal contractors and subcontractors to disclose […]

Can tribunal rule on harassment complaint if alleged harasser works for different employer?

by Lorene Novakowski The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal had no jurisdiction to hear a complaint where the alleged harasser was employed by a different employer than the alleged victim. The alleged harasser was not in a position of control over the complainant even though they worked at the same site. So the complaint was […]

Hope Solo: too little, too late?

Hope Solo’s derogatory comments about Sweden’s national women’s soccer team have earned her a six-month ban from U.S. Soccer and the termination of her contract. U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati released a statement this week saying, “The comments by Hope Solo after the match against Sweden during the 2016 Olympics were unacceptable and do not […]