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

Employment Law

Perhaps councilman will next be kissing seat goodbye

10/22/2008

Terri Vaughn, finance director for the Yeadon Borough Council, has filed a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the EEOC, alleging that council member Terry McGirth kissed her inappropriately on numerous occasions …

Pittsburgh hospital hostile to the sick, EEOC lawsuit claims

10/22/2008

The EEOC has filed a lawsuit against LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh, a pioneer in caring for those with long-term acute illnesses, for turning its back on an employee who developed cancer …

Johnstown-area workers tilt at Spanish windmill company

10/22/2008

Kevin Wagner, Paul McElhenny and Rick Williams are suing Gamesa/Fiberblade, a Spanish manufacturer of wind turbines, for allegedly replacing them with younger workers and those from Spain …

No ifs, ands or butts: Know Pennsylvania’s new smoking ban

10/22/2008

In June, Gov. Ed Rendell signed into law the Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA), which regulates smoking in places across the commonwealth (except the city of Philadelphia because it already has a similar smoking ban in place). The CIAA prohibits smoking in indoor areas such as enclosed public places, restaurants, nightclubs and workplaces …

How can I make sure proprietary information doesn’t leave when employees do?

10/22/2008

Q. As an employer, what can I do to avoid unauthorized disclosure of sensitive company information when an employee departs?

What can’t I ask job applicants?

10/22/2008

Q. What questions are off-limits on an employment application or when conducting a job interview? …

What constitutes a hostile environment?

10/22/2008

Q. What factors determine whether a work environment is hostile? …

Can an injured worker double dip?

10/22/2008

Q. Can an injured worker obtain both workers’ compensation benefits and Social Security disability benefits at the same time? …

How can I ensure a safe work environment?

10/22/2008

Q. What are some proactive strategies employers can implement to promote a safe workplace? …

Act fast and fairly to investigate when employee complains of hostile work environment

10/21/2008

No matter how hard you work to make sure your workplace is a model of fairness and civility, you can’t rule out the possibility that an employee will come to HR with a claim that she’s being forced to work in a racially or sexually hostile environment. How you handle that complaint may make the difference between nipping an ugly problem in the bud and paying a huge jury award.