• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Employment Law

OSHA rule would add electronic injury reporting mandate

11/25/2013
A proposed OSHA rule would require employers of 250 or more employees to submit quarterly injury reports electronically. The rule—to be finalized next year—wouldn’t add new recordkeeping requirements but would accelerate the injury-reporting process.

What should we do about email still on former employee’s company-issued cellphone?

11/19/2013
Q. We give our employees company phones. An employee recently resigned and turned in her phone to her supervisor, in compliance with our technology policy. A week later, it came to my attention that the supervisor had not deleted the departed employee’s email that was still on the phone. A new hire who had been issued the phone could read those messages. What should we do?

Weigh pros, cons of surveillance in wired workplace

11/19/2013
As technology becomes more and more intrusive, today’s employees naturally wonder how far their employers can pry. Carefully weigh whether any form of employee surveillance is right for your organization. 

Senate passes ENDA, House vote unlikely as ever

11/19/2013
The Senate on Nov. 7 voted 64 to 32 to approve the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would make it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees on the basis of actual or perceived sexual ­orientation or gender identity.

‘I’m pregnant’ + poor review = likely employee lawsuit

11/19/2013
When a formerly high-rated em­­ployee suddenly finds herself on the receiving end of a poor evaluation, she’s likely to look for a reason—such as her recent announcement that she is expecting a baby.

Harassing restaurateur braces for court’s damages award

11/19/2013
A high-profile sexual harassment case that went all the way to the Min­­ne­­sota Supreme Court will now proceed to the penalty phase with no opposition from the defendant.

Minnetonka banker beats arson rap, settles harassment lawsuit

11/19/2013
Five former employees of Min­­ne­­tonka’s Equity Bank have agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit that alleged that the bank’s CEO barraged them with vulgar tirades, threatened to burn down their houses, kill them and dismember their children.

You should ban all racial slurs at work, but hold supervisors to a higher standard

11/19/2013
When it comes to the use of racial or other patently offensive slurs, it makes a difference who does the talking and how often. Courts don’t tolerate slurs when a supervisor is responsible, but cut employers more slack when it’s a co-worker speaking.

Don’t tolerate bully boss–but don’t fear bias lawsuit if he’s awful to everyone

11/19/2013
While it’s unpleasant and unproductive, having a supervisor scream at subordinates isn’t grounds for a race discrimination lawsuit if he never uses racially offensive words.

Immediately apply your policy to stop harassment before it escalates

11/19/2013
An effective sexual harassment policy that includes prompt investigation of any complaints of physical touching is key to prevailing in a sexual harassment lawsuit. What should your policy include?