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Employment Law

Beware bias against men who take FMLA leave

02/01/2004
Would you think less highly of male applicants because they took leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? Your first answer may be “No,” but a new study suggests …

Beware labor’s pitch to create union sympathizers

02/01/2004
As AFL-CIO union membership continues to decline, it’s trying another tack: creating an army of nonunionized workers to rally support for its causes. Rather than organizing individual workplaces, this program, dubbed …

Employment contracts: Can your workers claim an ‘implied’ contract?

02/01/2004
Issue: Drafting a legally sound employment contract and avoiding “implied contract” claims.
Benefit/risk: While employment contracts can offer your organization additional legal rights, they also expose you to new legal …

Don’t lower standards for disabled staff

02/01/2004

Q. One of our employees has multiple sclerosis and isn’t meeting our production standard, which calls for 70 percent production level. This employee is achieving only a 59 percent level. From an ADA standpoint, what would be a reasonable accommodation? —M.R., Pennsylvania

Beware Time-Clock Inconsistencies

02/01/2004

Q. Our employees punch in 15 minutes or less before their warehouse shifts begin. We pay them starting at their scheduled start time. Also, our employees are scheduled for 30-minute lunch breaks, but some punch in and out for lunch within 10 or 15 minutes. Our company pays the full lunch time, regardless of what is punched. Is this OK? —J.W., Indiana

Stop disgruntled staff from hijacking your Web domains

02/01/2004
Issue: Former employees with an ax to grind against your organization can register Web domain names that your organization may want for itself. Benefit: You can prevent them from doing …

Don’t delay on FMLA decision; act quickly or risk liability

02/01/2004
Issue: Notifying employees that their leave qualifies under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Risk: Courts tend to resolve borderline FMLA eligibility disputes in favor of employees. Action: …

You can’t play politics with employees’ political choices

02/01/2004
Issue: In this election year, politics will become a hot topic around the water cooler.
Risk: Retaliating against employees for their off-site political activities or comments can run you into …

Craft a ‘last-chance pact’ with on-the-ropes employees

02/01/2004
Issue: Written “last-chance agreements” give poor-performing employees one final opportunity to shape up. Risk: Some fear that last-chance pacts will violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Action: Go …

You can require tests to set disability accommodations

02/01/2004
Issue: How to follow Americans with Disabilities Act rules requiring an “interactive process” with disabled employees.
Benefit: You can reject an accommodation request if the employee won’t cooperate in the …