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Indiana

Investigative finger points back at accuser? It’s OK to fire

05/14/2008
Sometimes, a sexual harassment or other discrimination complaint ends up revealing more about the person complaining than it does about the alleged offense. If you conduct a fair, impartial and prompt investigation and discover that the problem is with the person making the complaint, you can take action …

You can require FMLA certification form directly from doctor

05/14/2008
Are you concerned about possible FMLA abuse? The law and FMLA regulations allow employers to insist on receiving FMLA certification forms directly from a health care provider’s office—and not by way of the employee. That way, there’s little chance the employee can alter what the doctor has certified …

Beware reverse sex discrimination when setting schedules and overtime policies

05/14/2008
It isn’t unusual for fathers to have extensive child care responsibilities. Make sure your policies recognize that fact. Don’t succumb to stereotypical thinking. For example, if you waive some work requirements so mothers can pick up their kids from day care, give fathers the same flexibility …

Good faith is the key to litigation-Proof employment decisions

04/22/2008
Employment decisions don’t have to be perfect—they just have to be based on good faith. That’s good news, because it’s a fact that supervisors and managers will make mistakes. What that means: Just because an employee can prove management did something wrong doesn’t guarantee she will win a lawsuit …

Tell supervisors to zip it! Little digs can add up to retaliation

04/22/2008
When supervisors have to work with an employee they view as a troublemaker, they sometimes look for subtle ways to exact punishment. If the so-called troublemaker got that title because he constantly complains that his co-workers are being discriminated against, supervisors should lay off …

South Bend postal boss’s comments not harassment

04/22/2008
Jennifer Ohda was hired in 2004 as a part-time mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in South Bend. On her first day, Ohda was assigned to a male training officer named Dale. At the end of Ohda’s shift, a supervisor, Linda Batteast, said, “Dale, tell your little helper to go home tonight and eat something.” …

Lack of screening did not prove negligence in truck accident

04/22/2008
In September 2004, Martin King and Tobias Ledzema were both driving tractor-trailers in Lake County when Ledzema’s trailer struck King’s. King sued Ledzema’s employer, Fierro Trucking, based in Illinois, alleging negligent hiring and supervision …

Nonprofits can’t afford this kind of volunteer help

04/22/2008
Sherri Sullivan, a volunteer treasurer at the Madison County Humane Society, was charged with stealing $65,000 of shelter funds to buy jewelry and makeup …

Mishawaka guardsman prompts national benefits policy change

04/22/2008
Brendan Milczynski, a member of the Indiana National Guard, noticed a discrepancy in benefits for the staff members who serve his unit and those who serve Army Reserve units. Milczynski contacted U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, who asked the Department of Defense to review its policies …

ATA Airlines runs on empty, finally stalls as fuel costs rise

04/22/2008
Budget carrier ATA Airlines, based in Indianapolis, laid off 2,230 employees when it filed for bankruptcy and ended operations in April. The company cited skyrocketing fuel costs, plus the loss of two critical deals as primary causes for the shutdown …