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Terminations

Keep records from unemployment comp case –you might need them later if employee sues

01/14/2011
Don’t assume you won’t have to defend against a discrimination lawsuit just because you win an unemployment compensation case. Retain all records, just in case you need them in court later.

Employees fired for missing work should expect to miss unemployment comp, too

01/11/2011
Employees who are guilty of misconduct aren’t eligible for unemployment compensation in Florida. That means if they’re fired for missing a lot of work, habitually arriving late or leaving early, they can be denied unemployment benefits.

When religion is crux of workplace problems, base discipline on behavior–not belief

01/11/2011
Warn managers and supervisors: They must not refer to an employee’s religious beliefs when taking any adverse employment action. That’s true even if the decision being discussed involves a dispute over a religious accommodation.

Offer reinstatement if you make FMLA mistake

01/11/2011

The FMLA is a complicated law that can trip up even the most experienced HR professional. And sometimes it may not be apparent that an employee didn’t get the leave he was entitled to until after his lawsuit is in full swing. Fortunately, there’s still something you can do to cut the potential liability.

Nail down specific dates to defeat late lawsuits

01/11/2011
Courts are losing patience with former employees who wait to sue an employer—as long as the employer can produce concrete proof that the employee filed too late.

Use exit interviews to identify patterns of supervisors’ hidden discrimination

01/11/2011

Do you suspect a rogue supervisor is driving away employees belonging to a protected class? If so, begin asking tougher questions during your exit interviews. For example, if several black employees have quit or requested transfers, find out why. The problem may be a biased supervisor who is pushing away good employees—and setting up the company for a lawsuit.

Asking worker to stay can counter constructive discharge

01/07/2011
Employees who believe they work in a hostile environment can quit and claim they were “constructively discharged,” arguing that no reasonable person would stay and suffer intolerable conditions. But when an employer responds to a resignation with entreaties to stay, chances are the employee will have a hard time arguing things were so terrible she had to quit.

When a company sells off a function, does it have to give plant-closing or layoff notice?

01/07/2011
Q. My company is selling a portion of the business that employs more than 100 workers. Do we have any special obligations to provide notice to these employees?

Allen debt counseling firm sued for race bias, FLSA violations

01/07/2011
Two former salespeople are suing Greenshield Financial Services, a debt consolidation firm based in Allen, claiming the company is racially biased and failed to properly pay them for overtime hours.

EEOC sues Houston firm over mandatory retirement

01/07/2011
The EEOC says a Metallic Products’ policy of requiring employees to retire at age 70 is a violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and is suing to make it stop.