• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Terminations

Best Buy also cuts jobs

02/12/2009

Best Buy, the nation’s largest electronics retailer, will cut an undisclosed number of jobs at its Richfield headquarters. The news comes after 500 employees already left under a voluntary buyout program.

How should we handle layoffs without risking discrimination claims?

02/12/2009

Q. We need to cut two employees from our marketing department. One of the employees we would prefer to keep was hired only six months ago. If we don’t base our decision on seniority, are we more susceptible to discrimination claims?

Factory sit-in workers file unfair labor practices charges

02/12/2009

The employees who took over Republic Windows and Doors, an Illinois window manufacturing plant, last year after the owner announced he would shut it down have filed an unfair labor practices charge against their former employer and the owner.

Automakers offer early retirement packages

02/12/2009

General Motors and Chrysler have offered blue-collar workers at selected plants early retirement packages. The buyouts allow the struggling manufacturers to cut short-term costs, but also reduce future labor costs.

Hastings offers settlement to cop accused of wrongdoing

02/12/2009

A female police officer who was placed on administrative leave after being accused of writing false traffic-warning citations has received a payout from her employer, the Hastings Police Department.

Document investigation to thwart harasser’s suit

02/05/2009

Sometimes, employers conducting harassment investigations find themselves in no-win situations, especially when there are conflicting claims and classic “he said, she said” scenarios. You risk a lawsuit if you fire the alleged harasser, most likely alleging some other illegal reason for your decision to terminate. The way to win these cases: Thoroughly document the investigation.

Make agreements truly a last chance: It’s OK to forbid appeals or challenges

02/05/2009

If you want to give an employee one last chance to fly right, you can use a so-called “last chance agreement.” Such contracts can be used, for example, to set the terms for being drug or alcohol free and submitting to random testing. Last-chance agreements can even include tough terms

Fired health CEO sues

02/05/2009

Carmen Morano, former president and CEO of Bloomfield-based health insurance company PerfectHealth, has sued the insurer, alleging it illegally fired him in May 2008.

Be on guard for age discrimination suit if older worker offers to work for less

02/05/2009

Older employees who learn they might be laid off for economic reasons—especially those who have recently spoken with an employment lawyer—have begun trying an interesting tactic: They’re volunteering to work for less pay. Take those offers seriously.

Tanking finance sector puts NYC at top of job loss list

02/05/2009

According to a forecast by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, New York City will lead the nation in job losses in 2009. The Big Apple is expected to lose about 181,000 jobs this year—most of which can be attributed to the collapse of the city’s financial sector.