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North Carolina

N.C. teachers have 2 shots at appealing contract nonrenewal

04/27/2012
North Carolina teachers whose contracts aren’t renewed by their school districts have the right to challenge those decisions in state court. That doesn’t mean they give up their right to sue later in federal court. In effect, teachers get two bites at the apple.

Appeals court: Attorney fines OK to stop frivolous lawsuits

04/27/2012
Here’s some good news that may mean fewer frivolous lawsuits against employers. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a fine against attorneys who pursued a frivolous lawsuit against an employer.

Easy way to stop most harassment claims: Respond ASAP when employee first complains

04/27/2012
The key to preventing most har­­assment lawsuits lies in properly handling the situation when you first learn of a problem. A quick and effective response that stops the hostility right away is essential.

Beware minimum wage, OT violations–you could owe double damages, and more

04/27/2012
Here’s an incentive to make sure you pay employees properly: Failing to pay minimum wage or overtime may mean a lawsuit that goes back three years. Plus, winning employees receive twice what they were owed—and their attorneys collects legal fees commensurate with their time and effort.

Reduction in force? Make sure severance packages are equitable for similar employees

04/27/2012
Here’s something to keep in mind if you’re contemplating a reduction in force: If you plan to offer severance packages in exchange for a liability release, make sure you aren’t too selective about who gets the best deals.

EEOC lawsuit shows ADA mental disability peril

04/27/2012
Golden Living Center, a nursing home in Dartmouth, faces an EEOC disability discrimination lawsuit in a case that highlights the difficulty of dealing with mental disabilities under the ADA.

Beat bias suits with good business reasons

04/27/2012
It’s critical to base every employment-related decision on sound business reasons. It’s the only way to protect against lawsuits from employees who blame discrimination for every problem at work.

Promoted? Judge performance in new job, not old

04/09/2012
Once in a while, promotions just don’t work out. Someone who was great at one job might bomb at another. That’s especially true if the new job involves different skills and talents. Don’t let past performance make you hesitate to discipline.

Donor’s gift causes OSHA fines for fire department

03/23/2012
The Indian Beach-Salter Path Fire Department faces $10,838 in fines after state OSHA inspectors learned that firefighters had removed 120 ceiling tiles that contained asbestos from a mobile home a citizen had donated for use in the department’s training program.

Greensboro mulls settlement in race discrimination lawsuit

03/23/2012
The city of Greensboro is considering an offer to settle a racial discrimi­­na­­tion lawsuit filed by longtime athletic director Jean Jackson. Jackson, who is black, claims the city regularly promotes white employees to management jobs without openly advertising the positions.