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Unraveling the basics of travel time

by Michael G. Petrie Thanks to confusing and vague terminology used in the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), it is far from easy to comprehend the numerous rules and exceptions that determine whether an employee must be compensated for certain activities. While the question of whether an employee is performing a compensable work task […]

Massachusetts Court Green-Lights Nurses’ Defamation Claims

The following case is a cautionary tale about decisive action and one type of legal risk: defamation claims. Although this particular case turned on a legal technicality, it’s useful to show how communicating about your reasons for taking an adverse action can turn into litigation.

Mississippi

ADA and FMLA Best Practices Pay Off for Cash-Handling Company

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) recently upheld a jury’s verdict in favor of an employer on an employee’s lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The verdict was the result of several things the employer did correctly in response to the employee’s medical issues. This case is worth another look.

May You Require a Pregnant Employee to Take Leave?

Yesterday’s Advisor covered several aspects of pregnancy discrimination as laid out in recent guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  Today, more about pregnancy plus notice of a timely new webinar on benefits for same-sex couples. [Go here for the first part of the discussion on pregnancy discrimination] Requiring Leave May an employer […]

Got 1 Hour to Kill? Let’s Do Lunch!

How do you spend your lunch break? That was one of the questions Fooda—an office lunch service company—asked in its recent survey. According to the survey, people who work in the communication and media industry tend to take the longest breaks (approximately 58 minutes), while people in the food and beverage industry tend to take […]

Compensation: How Do We Calculate Premium Pay for Employees with Certifications?

I would like direction on how to determine additional premium pay for employees with certifications, such as a Certified Public Accountant. Is there a general rule or guidance on determining premium pay? I appreciate your help. — Allison in Sacramento   Sometimes premium pay is tied to shift work, temporary assignments in other locations, or […]