Issue: Some supervisors, particularly males, try to bond with employees by giving them nicknames. Risk: When nicknames are insensitive to a protected class (race, ethnicity, etc.), they could trigger hostile-environment …
Issue: Very precise wording is needed when employees waive their rights to sue for age discrimination. Risk: Employers often treat age-bias waivers like any other waiver, a critical mistake that …
Issue: Severance packages usually ask departing employees to waive their rights to file various employment lawsuits. Risk: If you include FMLA in that mix, you’ll risk having the whole package …
Issue: Many employers are baffled about how to pay nonexempt employees when they travel locally or on overnight trips. Risk: Mistakes could spark anything from mild complaints to class-action lawsuits, …
You may not like employees comparing their bonus checks or bad-mouthing their managers in the break room, but don’t even think about trying to silence such off-duty chats. If you do, …
While the FMLA allows employees time off to care for a sick spouse, child or parent, such “care” doesn’t have to be physical. FMLA regulations say employees can take FMLA leave …
You know that ethnic slurs and name-calling have no place in the workplace. But a new court ruling proves that any kind of ethnic intolerance can be punished. If supervisors …
A new court ruling gives you more reason to consider a “no-dating” rule among your employees or a “no-dating subordinates” rule for your supervisors. At the very least, require supervisors to …
In severance agreements, employers typically require employees to sign promises not to file employment-related lawsuits. But don’t try to include FMLA rights in that waiver. Why? A new ruling …