Layoffs

Most employers are finished with recession-related cuts

06/01/2009

A new Watson Wyatt survey found that 52% of employers have made layoffs (up from 39% two months earlier), but the percentage of companies planning layoffs fell from 23% to 13%.

New COBRA subsidy available in cases of ‘involuntary termination’: What does that mean?

05/27/2009

Under the massive new federal economic stimulus law, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), employees who suffer an “involuntary termination” have to pay just 35% of the cost of COBRA continuation health care coverage. But what does “involuntary termination” mean?

Law firm WARN Act suit gets class-action status

05/15/2009

A federal judge recently certified two classes of workers in a suit accusing the law firm Thelen, LLP, of firing them without notice. Also certified were three subclasses of workers alleging that the defunct law firm failed to compensate them for vacation time.

Chicago’s Loyola law students mastering the recession

05/11/2009

With the possible exception of employment law, the legal profession has been hit hard by the recession. Today’s law school graduates are now competing with cadres of laid-off attorneys for dwindling positions. So, Loyola University Chicago School of Law has devised a way for law students to weather the economic storm.

10 ways to stay out of legal trouble while trimming staff

05/04/2009

Even as we watch the stock market slowly recover, organizations are still laying off employees and searching for ways to cut overhead. If your organization is eliminating even one job, plan it carefully. A hasty layoff can create legal problems that cost more down the road than keeping the employee would have. Here are 10 things to consider:

Navigating the complexities of a layoff to avoid unnecessary risks

05/04/2009

In today’s down economy, nearly every termination and layoff is fraught with risk. Layoffs are supposed to be blind on issues of race, sex, age, etc. But, if you are making these decisions in the dark, you are making a big mistake that could prove very costly. Before implementing a layoff, it’s crucial to review the demographics of who is staying and who is leaving.

Length of layoff: How long until it hurts your career?

04/27/2009

Being out of a job for an extended period no longer carries the stigma it once did for top managers, says a new Robert Half Management survey.

Left behind: Consider RIF effects on your other employees

04/22/2009

Your business has crunched the numbers, considered the alternatives and come to the conclusion that layoffs are necessary if the business is to remain afloat during these challenging economic times. But how much thought have you given to your remaining employees who are about to watch their friends and colleagues lose their jobs?

Watch out, managers! The top 6 firing mistakes to avoid

04/21/2009

Here are the top six mistakes managers make when they have to terminate an employee. Any one of them can cause a costly trip to court when the employee sues. Learn more about terminating employees without increasing your lawsuit risk. Our upcoming audio conference, "Trouble-Free Terminations: Legally Safe Layoffs and Firings," tells you how.

How does a layoff affect seniority for someone receiving workers’ comp benefits?

04/20/2009

Q. We have an employee who had been performing light-duty work for more than six months. We laid him off based on his seniority. Now he is receiving workers’ compensation benefits again. Our collective-bargaining agreement provides that an employee will lose seniority after being laid off for a year. Does the fact that our employee is receiving workers’ comp benefits have any effect on his seniority rights?