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Relying on Luck to Avoid Employee Legal Claims Is Dangerous and Expensive

Here’s a case that will probably make employers feel great about their own compliance efforts. You know who you are: You train your new hires on all company policies, you have sparkling and oft-reviewed nondiscrimination, nonharassment, and nonretaliation policies, you conduct supervisory training early and often, and your folks know how to recognize potentially harassing […]

News Notes: Pregnant, Cancer-Stricken Cosmetics Saleswoman Awarded Over $11 Million For Wrongful Termination

A Texas jury has awarded $11.24 million to Claudine Woolf, a former top Mary Kay Inc. saleswoman from Walnut Creek, Calif., who was fired while she was pregnant and undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Woolf claimed she asked her employer to reduce her sales quota because of her medical problems. But Dallas-based Mary Kay allegedly […]

Bank Salary Increases Coming Soon

Banks are looking to grow, according to the Crowe Horwath LLP 2017 Bank Compensation and Benefits Survey.

Risk Is Your Business

It’s March. Chances are there’s an NCAA men’s basketball tournament pool being conducted in your office right now. If you’re in it, good luck! There are a number of them here in our office. (You want to see my picks click here.) It’s estimated that $2.5 billion changes hands over this single event. That’s quite […]

New Alabama law opens door to erase certain criminal convictions

by Whitney Brown A new Alabama law taking effect July 7 allows individuals to apply to have certain criminal proceedings expunged, meaning an applicant will be excused from disclosing the offense on employment applications. Offenses must be misdemeanors or nonviolent felonies, and charges must have been dismissed, been “no-billed” by a grand jury, been dismissed […]

Zero tolerance for stalking on company time

by Chuck Harrison A single incident of misconduct can still justify the termination of a unionized employee’s employment. So ruled a labor arbitrator in British Columbia recently. In Fortis Energy Inc., (February 16, 2015) the employee had engaged in an incident of stalking and intimidation of his wife’s supervisor. Compounding his offense, he did this […]

HR Far Removed? I Don’t Think So (‘Seat at the Table’ Talkback)

Our recent epinion “Human Resources–STILL Not a Strategic Partner?” elicited a number of interesting responses from readers. One lamented about being the last to know, while others boosted the strategic importance of HR. Here are the responses: HR Far Removed? I Don’t Think So HR is far removed from the people and points that make […]

You’re Never Safe from Discovery of Improper Conduct

You are not alone, says attorney Jean Johnson. Write as if you’re being published, speak as if you’re being recorded, and act as if you’re being videotaped. Never expect that there is a secure place to engage in improper conduct, she says. Yesterday’s Advisor presented Johnson’s tips for lessening the danger of discovery. Today, more […]

At-Will Employment: Supreme Court Clarifies Termination Rights, But Personnel Policies Can Limit Your Options; 3 Ways To Protect Yourself

Some employees have tried to get around their at-will status by claiming long service and repeated promotions created an implied agreement that they would only be terminated for good cause. Now the California Supreme Court has made clear that this argument won’t fly. However, the court left the door open for a person’s at-will employment […]