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Employment Law

You don’t have to police workplace banter, but don’t let it escalate

12/01/2002
On the production floor, Lisa Ocheltree had to listen to conversations between male co-workers about their sexual exploits, which included vulgar language. The men showed …

Prevent pro-union postings at work by limiting personal solicitations

12/01/2002
After a union launched an organizing campaign at an Arkansas hospital, a nurse put up a screen saver on a hospital computer that said “Look for the U.” Her supervisor gave …

Your benefits liability may not end with company sale

12/01/2002
While Denise Lessard was on disability leave, the company she worked for was sold. All employees were automatically employed by the acquiring firm as long as they were “actively employed” on …

What’s a ‘reasonable’ ADA accommodation? See new guide

12/01/2002
Federal law says companies with 15 or more workers have to provide “reasonable accommodations” to disabled workers, unless it would cause the company “undue hardship.” Newly updated guidelines from the Equal …

Dress codes: Strip away discrimination, ‘uniform’ dangers

12/01/2002
If your business is image-driven, now’s the time to take a closer look at how you regulate employee appearance. Reason: An increasing number of lawsuits are successfully challenging employers’ dress-code policies. …

Focus on Decision Making When Deciding Exempt Status

12/01/2002

Q. I believe that one of our employees falls within the administrative exemption under FLSA, but I’m not sure if he “regularly exercises discretion and independent judgment.” How can I make that determination? —A.C., Mississippi

Overtime Pay Not Affected by Worker’s Shift Switch

12/01/2002

Q. Are employers required to pay for overtime hours resulting from the employee voluntarily switching shifts with another employee? —E.R., Kansas

Offer Letters Are OK If Crafted With Care

12/01/2002

Q. Our company has typically sent formal offer letters to job candidates for certain positions. Could such letters legally bind us, and would we be smarter to avoid them? —S.T., Texas

Care for healthy child wins FMLA coverage

11/01/2002
The walls of employee FMLA protection have grown higher with a new court ruling that says a worker must be given leave to look after his healthy children while his wife …

Don’t be bullied to create permanent light-duty job

11/01/2002
After injuring her shoulder, assembly-line worker Tamara Watson wasn’t able to do many tasks required for her job. To aid her recovery, the company temporarily limited her to lighter duties that …