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Terminations

Molson Coors to trim staff by outsourcing IT work

05/01/2008
Molson Coors Brewing Co. has announced plans to outsource technology work to Hewlett-Packard Co., resulting in job cuts of about 4% of its global work force, or 390 jobs …

Can we enforce noncompetes against staff we’ve laid off?

05/01/2008
Q. Due to the competitive nature of our business, our sales force signs restrictive covenant agreements that prohibit them from working for a competitor for a six- month period. We are about to lay off some of these employees for lack of business. Is the covenant enforceable? …

AAM strike rocks GM operations across North America

05/01/2008
A strike by workers at five American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings (AAM) plants in Michigan and New York led to temporary closures at more than a dozen General Motors plants in February and March. GM’s Moraine Assembly facility, south of Dayton, ran out of parts mid-shift within a week. GM laid off more than 1,800 workers at the plant …

You picked a fine time to leave me: Penalties for quitting without notice

05/01/2008
Q. Can an employer in Colorado fine an employee who quits without giving two weeks’ notice? …

OSU-Mansfield librarian sues over religious persecution

05/01/2008
Scott Savage, a former Ohio State University-Mansfield reference librarian, is suing the university over discrimination he says he suffered because of his Christian beliefs …

You smoke, you’re fired! Lessons from the Whirlpool Case

04/29/2008
The dangers of smoking are well documented: heart disease and cancer, shorter life expectancy, higher health care expenses. Now add another risk: As workers in Indiana just found out, smoking could get you fired. Was their employer justified in taking action, or did it step into a legal quagmire?

Downsized Work Force, Supersized Liability: The Legal Risks of Layoffs

04/29/2008
Whether we’re in slowdown or a full-blown recession, many employers may be contemplating job cuts to cope with tough economic times. But employers that downsize the wrong way may end up spending more on litigation than they save on labor costs. To avoid a costly court fight, know your WARN Act compliance responsibilities.

Farash Corp. faces harassment suit over execs’ comments

04/28/2008
A former executive assistant for Farash Corp. is suing the Rochester-based real estate company for sexual harassment. Susan Poulter claims she was fired without warning in June 2006, four months after she complained about inappropriate comments allegedly made by male executives …

Appeals court dumps Wyeth whistle-Blower’s claim

04/28/2008
A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a whistle-blower claim by Mark Livingston, a former training director at the Sanford, N.C., facility of the drug maker Wyeth …

The value of job descriptions—Even following termination

04/25/2008
Q. How serious is it if an employer doesn’t have written job descriptions in place? Is it safe to draft them even after a termination that could result in a lawsuit? …