July 13, 2017
Employers should have robust workplace conduct policies
The recent shooting at a New York hospital by a former employee is yet another act of violence in a string of workplace violence incidents this year. While acts of workplace violence are relatively uncommon, employers need to learn to identify the signs of a potentially violent employee and take action to remove the person […]
Remind employees of your expectations on workplace attire
As the weather gets hotter outside, employees are more likely to dress more casually and less professionally, and press the limit by wearing flip-flops and crop tops. Now might be a good time to remind employees of your expectations on workplace attire. Not every workplace requires an elaborate dress code. The amount of detail needed […]
June 28, 2017
Recent court decision is a wake-up call to employers on employee electronic communications
A recent court decision in Massachusetts is a wake-up call to employers on the extent to which courts might implicate an employee’s electronic communications. While this particular case doesn’t involve employment law, a judge in Massachusetts recently rendered a ground-breaking decision in a criminal case involving what can only be described as text-messaging induced suicide. […]
June 20, 2017
Five signs your co-worker is toxic
Most people enjoy their work, and most importantly, their co-workers. Given the amount of time we all spend at work, enjoying the people we work with is important. Sometimes, though, co-workers are suffering from being in a toxic workplace. Typically, one or a couple of co-workers are the main cause of the disruption. Management needs […]
June 13, 2017
Transgender employees may have rights under the ADA
While the law remains unclear on whether a transgender employee is entitled to legal protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, a federal judge in Pennsylvania has ruled that a transgender employee also may have rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case involves a transgender female employee who sued outdoor gear […]
June 5, 2017
Rights of fathers at work
As we approach the celebration of Father’s Day, now is a good time to explain the rights of dads at work. As it relates to childbirth, and placement of a child for adoption or foster care, men have a right to take off the same amount as women under the Family Medical Leave Act. Under […]
May 31, 2017
Employers need to get creative if they are going to fill open vacancies
Virginia’s jobless rate stood at 3.8 percent in April. Even before the low unemployment rate, employers have been complaining of vacancies that go unfilled because of the lack of available skilled workers. The issue of a skills gap reached the concern of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which, last month, held a public meeting on […]
Tips to get hired in a flooded market
This time of year, the market is flooded with new talent looking for work, fresh off graduation from college, grad school or high school. Getting hired in today’s market requires not just a good degree, but also a level soft skills that employers say are non-negotiable in their work cultures. Here are some tips to […]
May 18, 2017
House passes legislation allowing employees to take comp time
More flexibility might be coming to employers and employees in how and when overtime gets paid. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill earlier this month permitting private employers to offer compensatory time off in lieu of overtime pay. Some may think “comp” time, as it is often called, is already permitted by law. […]
May 10, 2017
Appeals court rules that women can be paid less than men for the same job
Can employers rely partially, or entirely, on a candidate’s salary history in setting pay, or does such practice inherently violate the federal Equal Pay Act where women are paid less than men using this practice? A recent decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower-court ruling that says an employer may […]