Legal Issues

Don’t assign disciplinary points for reporting injuries

November 19, 2018

A federal court awarded a machine operator in Wisconsin $100,000 in back wages and compensatory damages after he was fired soon after reporting an on-the-job injury.

Job candidate keeps mentioning her two small children: What should I say?

November 9, 2018

Q. A woman I was interviewing kept bringing up her two children. What’s the best way to handle that?

Lessons from the Courts: November ’18

October 26, 2018

Being hollered at by your boss won’t support a lawsuit.

Fire if manager falsifies employee hours worked

October 25, 2018

Time clocks and other time-tracking systems are designed to ensure workers receive all the pay they are entitled to. Manipulating those systems can easily lead to huge back-pay awards.

Discrimination claims must be based on good faith

October 17, 2018

Complaining about discrimination is considered protected activity. Punishing employees for complaining may be retaliation even if it turns out that the original claim was meritless. However, the original complaint must have been made in good faith.

Teen’s mom wants more info on firing: Do I legally have to answer her questions?

October 16, 2018

Q. The mother of a 16-year-old whom we fired called me asking for more information on the termination. Must I answer questions?

Lessons from the Courts: October ’18

October 15, 2018

It might be a good practice to regularly check all your emergency exit doors to ensure that people can escape through them in the event of a fire or other emergency.

DOL weighs in: Pay for participating in wellness activities?

October 9, 2018

More and more employers are providing various wellness incentives as part of their medical insurance plans to promote healthier lifestyles and choices. A new opinion letter addressed whether employees should be paid when they participate in certain activities.

Employees’ frequent toilet breaks may be a medical issue

September 19, 2018

Home improvement giant Home Depot has agreed to settle a disability lawsuit for $100,000 when it fired an employee for leaving her post to make emergency runs to the restroom.

The ‘new’ ADA: How to handle employee disabilities

September 16, 2018

When Congress expanded the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2009, it broadened the circle of people eligible for ADA rights even wider. That has led to a spike in people filing ADA-related legal claims. Here’s what managers need to know about the ADA: