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Employment Law

Can we cut employee pay to reduce costs?

04/09/2009

Q. We are considering layoffs but would like to avoid them. Can we cut employees’ pay because of tough economic times?

Does it do any good to include a confidentiality notice on our e-mails?

04/09/2009

Q. My company is considering adding a confidentiality notice to our e-mail messages to cover situations in which an unintended person receives our company e-mail. Does this provide any protection?

How far must we go to accommodate deaf clients?

04/09/2009

Q. My company provides health care services. Recently, a deaf client said we had to pay for a sign language interpreter. Is that true?

Legislation would scrap state’s prevailing wage

04/09/2009

A bill before the Minnesota Legislature would allow the state to suspend prevailing wage requirements on state-funded construction projects if November budget projections show a 1% or greater deficit. State prevailing wage legislation is patterned after the federal Davis-Bacon Act, which requires federally funded construction projects to pay the “prevailing wage” for specific job classifications.

Bill would allow guns in employees’ locked cars

04/08/2009

State Sen. Glenn Hegar has introduced legislation that would allow employees to bring guns to work as long as they stow them in their vehicles in company parking lots. If the bill passes, employers would not be able to prohibit their employees from keeping legally owned firearms and ammunition in their locked vehicles in company parking lots.

What to do when a Department of Labor auditor comes a-knocking

04/08/2009
Suppose an employee has complained to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) about possible wage-and-hour or overtime violations in your workplace. Once you’ve been notified that an auditor is coming, get prepared by conducting your own audit. Labor’s auditors have plenty of latitude to inspect records and interview employees, so make sure you’ve done everything […]

Beware last-ditch efforts to claim FMLA leave

04/07/2009

Sometimes, an employee whose job is in jeopardy will try to protect it by initiating a lawsuit intended to intimidate her employer. She may call in sick instead of showing up for a termination meeting, hoping to create an FMLA retaliation or interference claim. Here’s how to handle such tactics.

It’s your right! Prohibit guns in parking lot

04/07/2009

A recent 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision has specifically upheld the right of Ohio employers to ban guns in locked cars on company property. You can and should have a clear policy prohibiting guns at work and in the parking lot. You can discipline employees who violate that rule.

Use proactive process to stop little digs from adding up to hostile environment

04/07/2009

When it comes to a racially hostile environment, management must stay on top of the situation. As soon as anyone in HR or upper management gets even the slightest hint that hostile bias has reared its head on the front line, jump into action.

Watch out! Firing employee who needs maternity leave may be sex discrimination

04/07/2009

It’s time to check your policy on maternity leave. An Ohio appeals court has ruled that it may be discrimination if you don’t provide maternity leave to employees who don’t qualify for your usual leave plan because they haven’t been on the job long enough.