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Employment Law

Interview and consider applicants even if they’re receiving SSD payments

10/01/2007

Applicants and employees who are so disabled they are eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) payments can still sue for disability discrimination under state law. Why? Because claiming you are totally disabled and unable to work (as required to get SSD benefits) doesn’t mean you don’t think you could do some type of work with reasonable accommodations …

Deaf Ann Arbor man dogged by gas station discrimination

10/01/2007

A hearing-impaired man filed an ADA suit against an Ann Arbor gas station after an attendant ordered the man to leave the store. According to the complaint, Robert Hurdley entered Golfside BP in Ann Arbor on June 6 accompanied by his service dog. Hurdley, who can read lips, claims the attendant told him to leave because dogs are not allowed in the store …

Exclusivity or discrimination? Hotel reconsiders ‘Women-Only’ floor

10/01/2007

The new JW Marriott in Grand Rapids had plans to reserve a hotel floor exclusively for women. The rooms would offer chenille blankets, robes and special soaps for a $30 premium over regular room prices. Now the novel arrangement, designed to entice female business travelers, is on hold …

Selfridge ANGB chief claims whistle-Blower protection

10/01/2007

The former chief of operations at Selfridge Air National Guard Base claims his position was eliminated in retaliation for his whistle-blower activities. Part of the chief’s job was supervising private contractors and construction companies working on government contracts. The chief claims he continually brought evidence of building code violations, fraud and abuse to the attention of his supervisors—who ignored him …

Employment Relations Commission stops union maneuver

10/01/2007

The Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) blocked a union ploy to add Public Safety Academy teachers to an existing bargaining unit representing workers employed by a different school system …

Whistle-Blower turns broken code into $90,000

10/01/2007

A fired Bay City municipal building inspector has his job back and is $90,000 richer. The inspector refused to issue a building permit because it conformed to a defunct building code, but not the newly enacted one …

Complying with the revised EEO-1 reporting requirements

10/01/2007

Employers were required to file a new and revised EEO-1 report by Sept. 30. The EEOC recently revised the report form for the first time in more than 40 years. Did your organization comply with the new reporting requirements—or will you need to make changes? …

Michigan’s minimum wage is higher than the federal rate

10/01/2007

Q. The federal minimum wage increased in July. How does that relate to the minimum wage in Michigan? …

Employee fraternization—The kiss of discord?

10/01/2007

Q. We are a relatively small company, and it has come to our attention that two of our single employees have become romantically involved. One of the employees is in management. We have no policy addressing employee fraternization (if that is the correct term), and we wonder whether we can, or should, do something about it. Ideas? …

Make sure employees know your policies on moonlighting

10/01/2007

Do your employees ever take time off (whether vacation, personal time or even FMLA leave) to work a second job? You can’t do much about that unless you have a solid policy that prohibits moonlighting. Otherwise, employees on leave are free to spend that time any way they want, even working for someone else or in their own business …