Employment Law

DOL nominee Perez answers Senate questions about … DOJ

05/07/2013

Labor Secretary-designate Thomas Perez spent most of his time before a Senate confirmation committee April 18 testifying about his current job as head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

New FMLA regs in effect: Update your military leave policy

05/06/2013

In 2008, Congress expanded the FMLA to include two types of military leave: exigency leave and military caregiver leave. In 2010, Congress expanded those leave rights by applying them to the regular armed forces as well as National Guard members and reservists. Now those changes have been officially implemented with new regulations from the DOL.

Firm pays $190,000 to settle Astoria race harassment case

05/06/2013

A Pennsylvania-based energy-industry staffing firm has agreed to pay $190,000 to a black former employee to settle charges that a foreman harassed and physically abused the man because of his race.

In NYC, no more bias against unemployed job applicants

05/06/2013

Controversial amendments to New York City’s Human Rights Act take effect June 11, allowing job applicants to sue for discrimination against a new protected class: the unemployed.

Court: Trial for mentally ill worker denied transfer

05/06/2013

A court has OK’d a trial for a mentally ill worker who was turned down when he asked to be transferred to another supervisor. The man blamed his subsequent discharge on a failure to accommodate.

Combat co-worker harassment with effective policy, prompt action

05/06/2013

You can’t prevent all sexual harassment, but you can do plenty to avoid liability when it does happen, at least when the harasser is a co-worker. Start with a clear anti-harassment policy, and make sure everyone understands it.

Class act? NYC strippers to split huge settlement

05/06/2013

A class of 1,245 exotic dancers will split an $8 million settlement resulting from claims that the Penthouse Executive Club in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood misclassified them as independent contractors.

Off-limits to bosses: Talk of child-rearing

05/06/2013

Some things are best left unsaid. That includes any comments about how hard it must be for a mother to have a career and raise children. Tell managers to keep the topic out of their office chitchat.

Is sexual assault covered under workers’ comp laws?

05/03/2013

In a new ruling, a court said an employee who was violently sexually assaulted on company property can sue her employer in court. This case serves as a lesson for all employers.

Supremes: No class? No FLSA class-action!

05/02/2013

The U.S. Supreme Court on April 16 dismissed an FLSA suit, reaching the somewhat obvious conclusion that a wage-and-hour case that fails to attract class members has no standing to proceed as a class-action lawsuit.