Author: Dan Oswald

Trump’s behavior would create a nightmare in any workplace

by Dan Oswald Like a moth to the flame, I’m going to revisit the subject of none other than Donald Trump. You can’t ignore that he is THE story right now. There’s no doubt that when it comes to Trump, emotions run high as we watch supporters and protesters clash—even physically—at his rallies. And there […]

Last chance to draft your last chance agreement

by Mohamed Badreddine Last chance agreements—what are they? How do they work? As we have indicated before, an employer and employee agree that the employee may remain employed provided that he or she complies with specific conditions. If the employee later breaches the conditions, he or she is immediately dismissed.

Time for new grads, employers alike to fight off first-job blues

College seniors can be excused for looking anxiously at their calendars this time of year. The days are ticking away toward spring graduation, meaning the real world of adult responsibility awaits. But as excited as young adults are about their first foray into the professional world, the unknowns spark a barrage of scary questions: What […]

New law ‘bans the box’ for public-sector employers in Ohio

by Leigh Anne Benedic Ohio’s new ban-the-box law prohibiting public-sector employers from asking job applicants about criminal convictions early in the hiring process will take effect on March 23. The law doesn’t apply to private-sector employers, but when it takes effect, state agencies and political subdivisions will be prohibited from including questions about a job […]

New workplace safety and environmental crime initiative will use cross-enforcement

by Cole Wist If an employer skimps on safety protections for its workers, will it also ignore environmental protections? The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) think so.  Tag-team approach The DOL and the DOJ are teaming up under a new Worker Endangerment Initiative to investigate and prosecute worker […]

harassment

What HR must do when customers harass employees

by Michele L. (Warnock) Brott What business doesn’t value its customers? After all, the customer is always right. The trouble is, customers are people, too, and people come with a variety of biases and bad behavior that can create issues for employers. In other words, racist, sexist, or discriminatory customers can present a liability problem […]

Supreme Court’s ERISA ruling a victory for self-insured employers

The U.S. Supreme Court’s March 1 ruling in a Vermont case relieves self-insured employers from the obligation to report claims data to state governments that have established databases reflecting healthcare use and costs for citizens. The reach of the ruling extends beyond Vermont to all self-insured plans. “It absolutely has national implications,” Linda J. Cohen, […]

Working hard or working smart? Take a break to figure it out

It’s a rare boss who expects workers to spend hours constantly on task without taking the occasional 10- or 15-minute break to rest and recharge. But tell that to employees who, because of workplace culture or their own insecurities, think their careers will suffer if they’re not knocking themselves out every minute of the day. […]

Broader ban-the-box law taking effect in Philly

by Brittany E. McCabe A more far-reaching version of Philadelphia’s ban-the-box law covering all employers in the city is set to take effect March 14. On December 15, 2015, Mayor Michael Nutter signed an amended version of the city’s 2011 law that limits when employers can inquire about job applicants’ criminal background. Key changes include: […]