Firing

Fire away if worker abuses intermittent leave

07/18/2012

If you suspect intermittent FMLA leave abuse, take action. You can check up on the employee or ask her what she is doing on the days she designates as intermittent leave. If she’s not using the time as required, you can discipline her.

Minnesota Senate braces for Brodkorb’s sex bias lawsuit

07/13/2012

Michael Brodkorb, the once-powerful Minnesota Senate staffer fired following allegations he had a sexual affair with former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, has filed a sex discrimination complaint with the EEOC. So far, the state Senate has racked up $46,000 in legal bills contesting Brodkorb’s suit.

Shoddy work may cost unemployment benefits

07/13/2012

Are you frustrated with an employee who seems to never get the job done right? Before you terminate her, give her plenty of opportunity to improve. Show her what she is supposed to do and document when she doesn’t.

Don’t be afraid to fire insubordinate supervisor

07/12/2012

Not everyone is cut out to be a boss. Some employees just can’t direct others or criticize their work. If a supervisor can’t—or won’t—do his job, termination may be inevitable.

Years-old comments won’t support discrimination claim

07/12/2012

Everyone occasionally says something insensitive. Fortunately, verbal blunders can’t form the basis of a lawsuit if the comments occurred ages ago.

Equal opportunity discipline: Don’t let rogue bosses subvert your anti-harassment policy

07/05/2012

If you set rules for employees to follow, then make sure everyone in the organization follows them. That includes supervisors. Otherwise, your policies aren’t worth the paper they are written on.

HR director sues over president’s hiring preferences

07/05/2012

The former HR director at J. Christopher Capital has filed a $1 million lawsuit against the Manhattan venture capital firm, claiming the company’s founder stated that he only wanted gay men and beautiful women working for him.

Longview nursing home slapped with retaliation suit

07/03/2012

A Tyler nurse is suing the nursing home where she once worked, claiming she was fired in retaliation for filing an EEOC complaint.

Employee works despite FMLA leave? That’s not your fault–nor FMLA interference

07/03/2012

When employees need intermittent FMLA leave, they are entitled to take time off free from work responsibilities. Of course, that may leave some tasks undone. Some employees, especially those in management positions, may feel obliged to work additional hours, or may sometimes forgo taking leave. As long as there’s no employer pressure to get the work done, that extra work won’t support an FMLA-interference lawsuit.

After firing, counter frivolous lawsuits with solid documentation of poor performance

07/01/2012

Fired employees have nothing to lose by suing a former employer. And employers have no way of know-ing what frivolous claim a former employee may file. That’s one good reason to make sure you document poor performance.