We all do business through mobile phones — how did we ever live without them? But using cell phones inappropriately can present a big problem for employers. Many companies have policies on using cell phones while driving, including requirements to use the car’s hands-free feature and abide by applicable laws. But is the employer liable […]
We’re in the last quarter of 2018. Oh, how time flies. But we still have time to accomplish our goals for the year— like updating the employee handbook. While no federal or state laws require employers to have such a handbook, smart companies know that a thorough, updated employee handbook can save time and money […]
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) again is reflecting changes resulting from Trump administration influence, this time regarding employees’ rights to use employer email for protected concerted activities like soliciting support for a labor union, organizing a strike, or complaining about management. Earlier this month, the Board invited briefs on whether it should uphold, modify, or […]
With the U.S. Supreme Court term winding down its term, the biggest news is the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, effective July 31. Kennedy made a significant impact on the court, frequently casting socially progressive votes despite his generally conservative views. His decisions in gay rights cases serve as examples of Kennedy’s even-handedness in employment […]
As we noted in a previous post, the Supreme Court has been considering three cases that challenged mandatory arbitration in employment contracts. At odds were the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), which provides that an agreement to arbitrate a dispute is enforceable and irrevocable, and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which states that employees have […]
Often, what the U.S. Supreme Court does not do has as much impact at what it does. A case in point is the Court’s refusal to review a Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decision that employers are not obligated to extend a leave of absence or hold an employee’s job open following expiration of a Family Medical […]
Mandatory arbitration agreements, which require employees to take discrimination claims to arbitration rather than court, are common in employment contracts, especially in larger employers. Many of those contracts go a step further, including class-action waivers that prevent employees from taking collective legal action. Now a survey from the Economic Policy Institute reveals that employees in […]
If you’re a pet parent like I am, you already know that the animal-human bond is strong, often outlasting bonds between people. That’s why issues of pet custody often are complex and emotional for divorcing couples. Dogs and cats are members of the family in the eyes of their owners, and judges and divorce mediators […]
For Judith Martin, aka Miss Manners, the matter of who gets the ring when an engagement ends is simple: “The laws of etiquette absolutely require you to return an engagement ring when the engagement is broken, for whatever reason, and by however nasty a fiancé.” State laws are not quite that absolute. And, as seems […]
If you pay or receive child support, you may be aware that on September 1, 2013, the cap on monthly net resources used to calculate child support payments increased from $7500 per month to $8550 per month. What you may not know, however, is exactly what that could mean for you. First, a little background: […]
