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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

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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.

Choose best method to set FMLA calendar

08/09/2019
Employers can calculate the 12-week unpaid-leave entitlement by choosing one of four methods. Not choosing a method can prove dangerous, as a recent case shows.

Yes, you can terminate during FMLA leave

04/18/2019
You may find that some employees who suspect they are about to be disciplined suddenly ask for FMLA leave. They may cynically believe that taking FMLA leave protects them from discharge. It doesn’t.

Does post-traumatic stress disorder qualify for workers’ comp benefits?

04/02/2019
Q. I’ve heard that the first responders we employ can receive workers’ compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder. Is that true?

How can I keep track of overtime changes happening in Washington and Harrisburg?

04/02/2019
Q. I know the U.S. Department of Labor has just released a new proposed rule changing the weekly salary that employees must receive to be classified as exempt. But didn’t I also read a few months ago that Pennsylvania is also changing the salary level?

Philadelphia restaurants agree to pay $1M wage settlement

04/02/2019
The owners of two Philadelphia eateries apparently saw the writing on the wall after a trial on wage-theft charges began. They elected to settle the case before a jury had a chance to decide the matter.

An expensive anti-bias lesson for Havertown, Pa. country club

04/02/2019
Llanerch Country Club in Havertown, Pa. just learned a $30,000 lesson: Don’t discriminate on the basis of age, and certainly don’t tell your older employees that’s what you’re doing.

New OSHA record rules won’t stop controversy

04/02/2019
In January, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration made official several documentation changes it had announced in July 2018. Affected were OSHA forms used to record workplace injuries and illnesses.

Fired harasser can’t collect unemployment

04/02/2019
If you have a robust harassment policy that prohibits even a single incident of unwanted touching, rest assured that a fired harasser won’t be eligible for unemployment benefits.

Beware firing after employee has asked for FMLA leave

04/02/2019
Terminating an employee for absenteeism after she’s requested FMLA leave is likely to trigger a lawsuit.

Employees have three years to sue for willful violations of the FMLA

04/02/2019
Employers that retaliate against employees for taking FMLA leave may find themselves being sued a full three years after the alleged infraction.