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Pennsylvania

Discharged for gross misconduct? Then employee isn’t entitled to COBRA coverage

05/02/2016
Generally, employers that provide health benefits must offer continuing COBRA coverage whenever an employee resigns or is terminated. But that requirement doesn’t apply if the employee was discharged for gross misconduct.

Company activities heavy on religious content? Better pray you don’t wind up in court

05/02/2016
Evangelical fervor can cause legal trouble if an employer requires employees to participate in religious practices or activities as a condition of continued employment.

PO’d telemarketers get relief on bathroom breaks

05/02/2016
A telemarketing company will have to pay $1.75 million to 6,000 employees after a federal judge ruled the company’s policy of making employees clock out to go to the bathroom violated the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Disability: It’s never a joking matter

05/02/2016
Supervisors must understand that they have a responsibility to stop harassment immediately and take steps to prevent it from recurring.

How to comply with new DOL rules on anti-union ‘persuaders’

03/29/2016

A new Department of Labor rule will limit employers’ ability to use “persuaders” to convince workers to resist union organizing efforts, critics say.

Send FMLA forms to ‘ineligible’ employees?

03/29/2016
Q . An employee who’s been employed since October is out on workers’ comp and will be for a while. Do I send her FMLA paperwork even though she hasn’t met the criteria of being employed for at least a year? It’s my understanding that I should send it to everyone that requests leave, and only after they return the paperwork should I determine if the person is, in fact, eligible.

Utz drivers demand overtime

03/29/2016
Three drivers for Utz Snacks in Hanover are suing, claiming the company owes them thousands of dollars in back overtime pay.

Judge: Repeated demands for drug test can be harassment

03/29/2016
A Pennsylvania court has ruled that a former housekeeper can collect unemployment compensation even though she quit after a bottle-waving boss badgered her to take drug tests.

Online shopping doesn’t bar unemployment comp

03/29/2016
Are your workplace rules on Internet usage vague? Then firing an employee for shopping online or other wasted time may not bar unemployment compensation benefits in Pennsylvania.

Keep discharge meeting short and simple

03/29/2016
Deliver discharge news at a short and focused meeting. Remind everyone that the purpose is to let the worker know he has been discharged and obtain badges and other company property. Don’t be goaded into an argument.