The legal risks of providing references on ex-employees has caused some companies to put up a "No references" sign. That's not a smart move. Eventually, refusing ...
It's true that your company could be held liable if it rejects an applicant based on inaccurate data in his background check. But don't stop doing background ...
If it's been awhile since you've reminded employees about your anti-discrimination policy, now's a good time. Why? A big U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month makes it...
Issue: Unless your policy prevents it, employees can work a second job while out on medical-related FMLA leave. Risk: Reduced productivity as employees "work" the...
Issue: Responding to employee harassment complaints is a high-stakes venture. Risk: A botched investigation can damage employee moral and spark a lawsuit. Action: Make...
Courts typically don't consider pregnancy alone to be a "serious medical condition" qualifying for job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)....
When establishing or changing your Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policy, don't skimp on paper. Spread the policy far and wide. Rule of thumb: If you mention FMLA...
Don't allow employees to use their disabilities as justification for poor behavior, especially if it clearly threatens your workplace. Even if an employee is ...
Don't expect a job title to help you, or a court, determine an employee's exempt or nonexempt status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). A manager in name only...
If you screw up on a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) pay issue, don't count on the "window of corrections" to save you. Sure, this Labor Department rule allows you to ...
Fabri-Centers gave workers several bonus payments above their base pay, including shift differentials, holiday pay and spot bonuses. But the company calculated...
After a construction worker injured his shoulder, had surgery and returned to work, he told his employer he didn't have any disability that would prevent him from doing...
Talk about a multimillion-dollar mistake. In a case that could spell a trend as more baby boomers care for aging parents, an Illinois federal jury awarded $11.65 million...
Don't leave the hiring and firing process up to your managers. Standardize your practices, and make sure everyone follows them. Giving any worker, especially a disabled...
The walls of employee FMLA protection have grown higher with a new court ruling that says a worker must be given leave to look after his healthy children while his wife...
After 18 years as a truck driver, Donald Dilley developed back trouble and was limited by his doctor to lifting less than 60 pounds at a time. Dilley asked for routes ...
Joel Hernandez had worked for Hughes Aircraft for 25 years when he tested positive for cocaine during a workplace drug test. Rather than be fired, he resigned. The...
Robert Ruder began working in management at a Maine hospital on Jan. 5, 2000. Exactly one year later, he left work for unspecified medical reasons. His employer denied...
Employees sued 14 major oil companies, claiming that the firms swapped employee salary information to hold down pay levels in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. A...
Truck driver Joseph Scamihorn Jr. saw his 73-year-old father fall into a deep depression soon after his daughter, Joseph's sister, was murdered. After notifying his...
