Many employers have multi-line phone systems at the workplace. Most employers have emergency action plans and evacuation procedures. The connection between those matters may not be readily apparent, but if employees cannot directly dial 911 from company lines, emergency procedures are incomplete. Complicating the issue is the fact that many offices have different floors, different […]
Corporate training to prevent sexual harassment often has consisted of watching a slide presentation, reading the handbook, and signing a document that says you understand the company’s policy and agree to obey it. But 2018 has proven that the #MeToo movement intends to keep sexual harassment center stage until corporate America no longer tolerates such […]
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 […]
