Author: Arizona Employment Law Letter

New Arizona law allows independent contractors to declare their status

by Dinita L. James Gonzalez Law, LLC A new Arizona law going into effect on August 6 will allow independent contractors to provide a declaration of their independence to businesses using their services. The law provides a form called a declaration of independent business status (DIBS) to help determine whether a worker should be classified […]

Ariana Grande’s online antics result in job loss at the White House

Newly leaked e-mails reveal that pop sensation Ariana Grande lost a gig performing at the White House based on a video circulated online last year. The surveillance footage taken at a California doughnut shop showed Grande licking a tray of doughnuts and saying, “I hate America.” The footage was later picked up by TMZ and […]

Can employer use subjective criteria to evaluate workers during probationary period?

by Paul Côté-Lépine There is sometimes uncertainty surrounding the proper scope of evaluation for a probationary employee. Is an employer limited to relying on neutral, objective criteria, or can the employer also consider subjective criteria? According to a Quebec arbitrator in Syndicat des cols bleus regroupés de Montréal (SCFP, section locale 301) c. Montréal (Ville […]

Supreme Court issues number of important employment rulings

by Sean D. Lee The U.S. Supreme Court’s October 2015 term ended in late June 2016. Employers and federal contractors should take note of several recent decisions that affect businesses nationwide across a broad range of areas, including employment discrimination, affirmative action, and overtime exemptions.   Green v. Brennan In Green v. Brennan (May 23, 2016), […]

Give your people a cause they can believe in

by Dan Oswald The United States won its freedom in the Revolutionary War when a ragtag army made up of state militias from the colonies defeated the mighty British Empire. How could this have happened? At the time, Great Britain was the world’s super power, with the strongest military and a navy that was recognized […]

Harvey Specter on human resources

It is challenging to make an attempt at wit and entertainment after the news of the brazen act of violence in Nice, France during a Bastille Day celebration last week. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Nice, France as they deal with this horrific tragedy.    Season 6 of Suits aired on USA […]

Early termination of fixed-term contract proves costly

by Jacqueline Gant The highest court in Ontario recently ordered an employer to pay out a whopping three years of compensation to a 23-month employee terminated without cause. The employee was entitled to his full salary and benefits for the remainder of the five-year fixed-term employment contract. The contract did not clearly say otherwise. In […]

Understanding strengths, weaknesses of bipolar employees

Disabilities of all types pose challenges for employers and employees alike. As employers struggle to find ways to help employees with disabilities do their jobs, they also must fulfill obligations created by laws designed to prevent discrimination and violate privacy. Like other disabilities, bipolar disorder presents its own unique challenges—concerns that will be explored in […]