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

Employment Law

Legality of arbitration depends where you are

02/01/2001
Before you require employees to arbitrate claims against you, find out whether it will stand up in court. A federal court in California recently barred a law firm from requiring …

How to respond when unions come a knockin’

02/01/2001
No union, no problem. Right? Not really. Even if your company isn’t unionized now, you can’t afford to be oblivious. Just ask Amazon.com. In the thick of the holiday shopping …

State Law Varies on When Clock Tolls for Overtime

02/01/2001

Q. What’s the definition of a standard workweek? One of our employees claims that overtime is defined as anything over eight hours per workday. Is he correct? —P.F., Minnesota

Body Odor: Clear the Air Over Staff Dress Code

02/01/2001

Q. In the December 2000 issue, you discussed the topic of employees with body odor. We also have a staff member with body odor so bad that other staff members have complained and even threatened to leave the agency. The employee has been disciplined several times and required to go home without pay until she agrees to comply with the dress code. At what point can we legally terminate her? —A.S., Michigan

Weigh the pros, cons of mediating disputes

12/01/2000

Q. Do you recommend mediation for resolving employment disputes? —N.B., Minnesota

Employees online? Take a byte out of your liability

12/01/2000
No employer wants to explain to a court why jokes like “Why beer is better than women” are bouncing around the company e-mail system. But that’s the position more companies are …

Gambling on who may sue is a losing bet

12/01/2000
When racial tensions among third-shift employees at a Wal-Mart boiled over, Gail Robinson reported it to her managers several times. African-American co-workers called her “white bitch,” shoved and threatened her …

Beware of employee’s ‘Let’s Make a Deal’

12/01/2000
HR director Cheryl Swenson didn’t wait for the standard severance package when the senior VP for human resources said her job would be eliminated. Swenson contacted the president and CEO …

Craft rif to avoid appearance of bias

12/01/2000
Related telecommunications companies decided to slash middle management. How they did it landed them in court fighting several claims, including age discrimination. Indiana Bell and Ameritech created complex ranking systems …

Jilted lover’s badgering could become your problem

12/01/2000
Joseph Succar’s affair with Clemencia Lorenz soured after about a year. At the school where they worked, she verbally and physically harassed Succar and tried to embarrass him in front of …