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WA County Will Pay $215,000 to Quell HIPAA Allegations

A county government in Washington state agreed to pay $215,000 in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, after its report of a minor breach led to an HHS investigation that found “general and widespread noncompliance” with HIPAA privacy and security rules. The incident originally reported by Skagit County, Wash., in […]

It’s Layoff Time–and EEOC Is Watching

How’s this for a news flash: People don’t like to get fired. And when they do get fired, they look for someone else to blame. Guess who? “You fired me because I’m X (fill in the blank with the name of a protected class).” That’s one lawsuit, but that’s not the end of it. The […]

Church Music Director Is Minister, So Court Blocks Employment Discrimination Suit

A Catholic church’s music director is a “minister” and therefore ineligible to bring employment discrimination claims against the Church, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, implementing a new U.S. Supreme Court precedent.  Phillip Cannata worked as the music director for St. John Neumann Catholic Church, part of the Catholic Diocese of Austin. He […]

OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) Idea: Many States Have Been There, Done That

Guest Post by: David Galt Senior Legal Editor Business & Legal Resources, Inc. There’s been a lot of discussion and concern voiced about OSHA’s proposal to require many businesses to create a formal injury and illness prevention program. Perhaps it would be a good idea to look at the states that already require certain businesses […]

Q&A Session: Using Social Media in the Workplace

Using social media in the workplace without causing legal headaches can be complex. But the simple fact that social media is entwined in our lives makes it hard to escape. There are many benefits to be had, but also many risks. How can employers strike a balance? "Social media – like LinkedIn, Facebook, and all […]

As Obama term winds down, employers adjust to changes and brace for future

Employers may be reeling from what they see as swift and dramatic changes related to employment regulation. In recent months, they’ve found themselves dealing with new rules on union representation elections, an impending expansion of who is eligible for overtime, a more restricted view of the use of independent contractors, as well as an array […]