• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly
Connection failed: SQLSTATE[HY000] [2002] No such file or directory

Minnesota

Macy’s resolves English-only incident at Edina store

10/14/2008

Macy’s has rescinded a manager’s ad hoc English-only rule after six employees at the company’s Southdale Mall store in Edina complained to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) of Minnesota. The workers said a manager allegedly threatened to fire them if they spoke “even one word” of Somali on the job …

Gold’n Plump, Muslim workers agree on religious accommodations

10/14/2008

After a year of negotiating and two EEOC lawsuits, Gold’n Plump Inc. of St. Cloud granted Muslim workers an extra 10-minute break for prayers and allowed them to refuse to work with pork products …

DNR chief hits the trail

10/14/2008

Col. Mike Hamm, head of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Enforcement Division, retired in September amid speculation that he was about to be fired …

The changing face of the ADA: Complying with the new amendments

10/14/2008

On Jan. 1, 2009, the newly enacted ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) will go into effect. The law clarifies the ADA definition of disability and overturns certain U.S. Supreme Court decisions and EEOC regulations that narrowly interpreted the ADA …

On Election Day, can we require employees to vote after work?

10/14/2008

Q. A number of employees have expressed concerns about long lines on Election Day and their intent to vote in the morning. That could make them late for work. Our office closes at 5:30, which gives employees 2½ hours to vote before polls close. Can we force employees to vote after they have completed their workday? If an employee who votes in the morning is late for work, can we deduct the missed time from his or her pay? …

What are the rules for conducting pre-employment physicals and drug tests?

10/14/2008

Q. I have been asked to screen applicants for several positions. Can we lawfully ask selected candidates to submit to physical exams or drug testing? …

Can employees volunteer time?

10/14/2008

Q. We are a small nonprofit organization that provides social services to the homeless. We cannot afford to pay employees overtime compensation, but some have expressed an interest in donating time to the organization to help provide services. Can our employees also provide work as volunteers? …

Holiday parties: Don’t let best of times become worst of times

10/07/2008

By exerting proper control over your holiday party this year, you can reduce everyone’s worries concerning the annual fete. Most important, careful planning will help your company avoid lawsuits as you ring in the New Year.

Take action to prevent customers from harassing employees

09/09/2008
Employees are entitled to work in a harassment-free environment—and that includes more than freedom from harassment by supervisors and co-workers. Employers also have to take reasonable steps to protect workers from harassment by customers, clients and others over which the employer has some control …

Don’t let lawsuit fear make you second-Guess good decisions

09/09/2008
Courts aren’t in the business of second-guessing all your employment decisions, as long as those decisions seem reasonable and rational. If you keep good records, can easily explain your decision-making processes and don’t have any discrimination to hide, you’ll win most lawsuits …