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Pennsylvania

Employment Lawyer Network:
Pennsylvania

Susan K. Lessack (Editor)

Pepper Hamilton LLP
Pennsylvania Employment Law

LessackS@PepperLaw.com
(610) 640-7806

Click for Full Bio

Susan K. Lessack is a partner in the Berwyn and Philadelphia offices of Pepper Hamilton LLP. She concentrates her practice in employment counseling and employment litigation. Ms. Lessack’s experience includes counseling employers on matters related to compliance with federal and state labor and employment laws, counseling regarding employee discipline and terminations, conducting investigations of employee conduct, including harassment, training employers on their obligations under employment laws and litigation avoidance, and developing employment policies. She defends employers in litigation of employment discrimination claims, wrongful discharge claims, and claims under federal and state employment-related statutes, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law.

Labor Department Offering Low-Cost Training Solutions

09/01/2006

Could your employees benefit from work skills training, but you’re operating on a limited training budget? The state’s Labor Department, through its Pennsylvania Career Link offices, may provide a solution …

EEOC settles race case over training discrimination

09/01/2006

The EEOC and Jameson Memorial Hospital settled a federal lawsuit that was originally filed last February. The New Castle hospital will pay $50,000 to an African-American radiology technician who claimed the hospital denied him training opportunities because of his race …

State to host conference on job safety, health next month

09/01/2006

Workplace safety experts, take note: The state will host its annual Occupational Safety and Health Conference on Oct. 16 & 17 at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center …

Pennsylvania experiencing steady job growth, record employment

09/01/2006

Unlike some other Rust Belt states, Pennsylvania continues to see steady job growth. Gov. Rendell said the latest job figures show a record high: 5,750,100 Pennsylvanians are employed …

Pennsylvania to reduce unemployment taxes next year

09/01/2006

With the Pennsylvania economy doing well and unemployment down, the commonwealth has decided to reduce the amount that employers will have to pay into the unemployment compensation (UC) system in 2007. UC taxes on employers will decline by an estimated $158 million …

Understanding religious accommodations in Pennsylvania workplaces

09/01/2006

Pennsylvania mirrors America’s growing diversity in many ways. Today, mosques occupy old churches; co-workers wear burqas and yarmulkes; and some employees request "prayer breaks." Religious diversity is a reason for celebration in a pluralistic society, but it also presents challenges in the workplace …

Add early-Termination clauses to all employment contracts

09/01/2006

If you use employment contracts to ensure that you have specially trained employees for a predictable time period, make sure the contract gives you "wiggle room" to terminate the employee …

Don’t fear shifting to ‘Get-Tough’ reviews, but be consistent

09/01/2006

When new management or HR leaders arrive at a company, they may realize that the old guard failed to hold employees to high productivity goals. As a result, they may shift gears and set tougher standards. Employees accustomed to the status quo and the good evaluations may be taken by surprise and suspect discrimination …

Résumé-Screening software: legal risks and precautions

09/01/2006

The federal job anti-discrimination law (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act) prohibits two types of discrimination: disparate treatment and disparate impact. Because automated tests, such as résumé-screening programs, are blind to applicants’ race, religion, gender and national origin, they likely can’t create a disparate-treatment case. However, such programs can still have a disparate impact on minorities …

Obtain written OK for wage deductions

09/01/2006

Q. Our company allows employees to purchase products on an installment basis. When employees quit and haven’t yet paid the full amount, can we deduct the remainder due from their last paycheck?—K.M., Pennsylvania