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Employment Law

Court: Employers don’t have to display NLRB union poster

05/20/2013
A federal appeals court on May 7 struck down a two-year-old National Labor Relations Board rule that would have required private-sector employers to post a notice informing employees of their rights to join or form a union.

Workers treated ‘like property’: EEOC wins largest-ever jury verdict

05/17/2013
An Iowa jury has awarded 32 men with intellectual disabilities the largest verdict in EEOC history—$240 million for 20 years of disability discrimination and abuse.

Does bankruptcy mean employees won’t get paid?

05/17/2013
Q. Can an employer that files for bankruptcy refuse to pay employees for their work and blame the bankruptcy court for not allowing them to?

Strive for harmony, plan for a lawsuit: Document every complaint

05/16/2013

Of course you have an anti-­discrimination and anti-harassment policy. You make sure employees know about it. You even make it easy for employees to use the policy. But all that can be for naught if you’re unable to track those complaints.

Can you require workers be paid via direct deposit?

05/15/2013
While some state wage payment laws say employers can make direct deposit of employees pay mandatory, most states generally prohibit you from requiring workers to participate in direct deposit or paycard programs.

Can we distribute employees’ contact info?

05/14/2013
Q. Do employers have the right to put employees’ address and phone numbers in a place where all employees can access them? Are there privacy issues? Should we get employees’ permission?

Fix racial harassment before hostile environment starts affecting employee performance

05/10/2013

Employees who have to work in a hostile work environment may have a hard time doing their jobs well. When resulting poor performance leads management to fire someone, expect trouble. Your best bet is to address any hint at a hostile work environment right away.

Bills would advance gay rights

05/10/2013
Two bills introduced in the House and Senate would ban employment discrimination against gay and transgender employees and expand their FMLA rights.

Is it OK to volunteer for your own nonprofit?

05/10/2013
Q. I work for a nonprofit organization. Several hourly employees of the organization volunteer during nonworking hours. Is that OK?

Should we go ahead with layoffs–including someone who complained about harassment?

05/10/2013
Q. Our company has been having financial difficulties and we have considered reorganizing for several months. Our chief operating officer has been charged with determining whether any of the current jobs can be eliminated. Recently, before any final reorganization decisions were made, an employee came forward claiming that the COO had been harassing her and had created a hostile work environment …