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Pennsylvania

Beware backlash when blaming the victim

04/03/2018
Employee assistance programs can be useful for workers facing stress or other challenges. EAP counseling is supposed to be confidential, which means that, except under very rare and unusual safety-related circumstances, information uncovered by the EAP should never be used against the worker.

Surprise lawsuit? Check EEOC paperwork

04/03/2018
If your organization has been served with a discrimination lawsuit, one of the first steps you should take is to check any paperwork from the EEOC or other discrimination agencies. It’s especially important if you don’t recall a particular complaint, such as age discrimination or sexual harassment, having come up earlier.

Pennsylvania prepares on its own to address overtime salary test

03/13/2018
The issue: Was an employee improperly classified as exempt instead of nonexempt? At stake: The possibility of being awarded back overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 per week.

Beware claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress

03/13/2018

You should thoroughly train all managers and supervisors on how to treat disabled employees. A worker with a disability who is badly mistreated may be able to claim intentional infliction of emotional distress in Pennsylvania.

He who does the hiring should also do the firing

03/13/2018

If possible, the same manager who made the hiring decision should also make the firing decision. That’s because presumably a manager wouldn’t hire someone knowing they belonged to an obvious protected classification and then turn around and fire that person because of that status.

Working side hustle doesn’t stop eligibility for unemployment benefits

03/13/2018

In a recent unemployment compensation benefit decision, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has concluded that participating in the “gig-economy” doesn’t necessarily constitute self-employment.

NLRB rules: Unions may try to organize employees in nonwork areas

03/13/2018

In December 2017, the National Labor Relations Board handed down a decision that changed the test for determining whether employers have engaged in unfair labor practices.

Short ADA accommodations delay no problem

03/13/2018

Coming up with an accommodation isn’t always easy. It’s OK to temporarily assign the worker to different tasks or another department while you figure it out.

Personal liability for rehiring harasser

03/13/2018

Here’s an important message for employers that may be considering rehiring someone who was fired after being accused of sexual harassment: There could be severe consequences, including, under Pennsylvania law, potential personal liability for the individual responsible for the rehiring decision.

Beware discipline if outburst reveals disability

03/06/2018

Some disabilities cause behavioral problems at work. A corollary is that some employees may try to excuse rule-breaking as a side effect of their medical conditions. Even if you suspect that’s what is going on, proceed with extreme care.