Legal Issues

Fired harasser can’t collect unemployment

April 2, 2019
If you have a robust harassment policy that prohibits even a single incident of unwanted touching, rest assured that a fired harasser won’t be eligible for unemployment benefits.

Opioid crisis affects three out of four employers

March 26, 2019
Seventy-five percent of U.S. employers have been directly affected by opioids but only 17% feel extremely well prepared to deal with the issue, according to a survey released in March by the National Safety Council.

The ‘silver bullet’ reason to make your employee handbook electronic

March 25, 2019
We all know that an employee handbook confined to paper form can be tedious and expensive to update, but the reasons to consider a switch to an electronic format go far beyond cost and time considerations. “I really can’t emphasize one thing enough,” employment law attorney Anniken Davenport told a webinar audience in January, “which is that a properly implemented electronic version will allow management to track which employee accessed which section of the handbook, and when.”

“Preference for female leadership” costs school $41k

March 20, 2019
A private school in Maryland is on the hook for $41,000 to settle a sex discrimination suit filed by the EEOC on behalf of a male softball coach who was denied a contract renewal because of the school’s “preference for female leadership.”

Lawsuit alert: Beware disciplining for infractions of seldom-enforced rules

March 15, 2019
Sometimes, supervisors get frustrated with workers they consider trouble makers because they complain all the time. Those bosses need to think twice before they retaliate by strictly enforcing work rules—especially if they have often ignored those rules in the past.

Don’t assume disability because of prescription

March 13, 2019
If you learn an employee is taking a prescription containing a controlled substance, make sure you don’t make assumptions about disability. You don’t want to be accused of violating ADA “regarded as disabled” provisions.

Keep It Legal: April ’19

March 8, 2019
Revoke accommodation? Expect a lawsuit.

Document the factors you weigh for promotions

February 22, 2019
Keep careful records of the factors you consider when making promotion decisions. That’s especially true if you don’t give much weight to objective factors such as past performance reviews.

‘Bro culture’ in West L.A. brings suspension, lawsuit

February 22, 2019
Riot Games, developer of the “League of Legends” e-sport game, has suspended Chief Operating Officer Scott Gelb following an investigation of his alleged workplace antics.

Don’t ‘game the system’ to favor one race over another

February 13, 2019
Trying to manipulate an otherwise neutral hiring or promotion process can backfire.