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Employment Law

Age-based remark can spark lawsuit, even when made by older manager

04/01/2003
Respond to “age slurs” by any employees, even if the worker making the remark is older than the person who was slurred. As a recent case shows, over-40 employees can …

Shifting exempt staff to nonexempt duties is OK for occasional tasks

04/01/2003
Don’t fear asking your managers to sweep the floor once in a while. As this case shows, occasionally assigning menial tasks won’t automatically erase …

Don’t let weather closings bury you in pay confusion

04/01/2003
If your business closes because of bad weather, clear rules dictate who you must pay. First, exempt employees must receive their full salaries when bad weather …

You don’t have to offer FMLA leave to let worker travel with sick spouse

04/01/2003
Courts keep pushing the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) boundaries, letting employees take job-protected leave for circumstances other than physically providing care to a sick family member.

Title VII remedies not available to church workers.

04/01/2003
The press secretary for Chicago’s Catholic bishop sued her employer, charging sex discrimination in violation of Title VII. But the court said she served a …

No pay for employee commute–even on ferry.

04/01/2003
To travel to and from their job at an island-based prison, a group of Washington state social workers had to take a daily 20-minute ferry ride. They weren’t paid for …

Be wary of giving employees automatic post-injury drug tests

04/01/2003
Steer clear of drafting (or continuing to follow) a company policy that says all employees involved in workplace accidents will automatically receive …

Monitor your job board’s security; fake want ads appearing online

04/01/2003
Monster.com recently notified users that scam artists could be using its job board to pose as employers and post phony want ads. The bad guys’ goal: Collect personal information from unsuspecting …

Workers on military leave? Take obligations seriously

04/01/2003
More than 175,000 reserve and National Guard troops have been called to active duty, putting a serious strain on many businesses. If one or more of your employees …

Hiring summer interns? Keep it legal, dude

04/01/2003
Expect a bumper crop of eager interns this summer, thanks in part to the still-struggling economy. While internships can be a win/win situation for employers and students, …