This has been an interesting start to the week at The Employer Handbook, from six-year-olds slinging racial epithets to expectorating employees. But I’m here for it. And I’m glad that you are too. I’ve fielded my share of unusual disability accommodation requests. But allowing an employee with a condition caused…
The Employer Handbook Blog
A six-year-old can create a hostile work environment. Wait, what?!?
In my many years of practicing employment law, I’ve seen hostile work environment accusations leveled against owners, supervisors, co-workers, subordinates, customers, vendors, and many others. But accusing a young child of racial discrimination is a new one for me. In this case, the plaintiff alleged that she was subjected to…
Join me on Friday, 11/18/22 at Noon ET for our next Zoom Happy Hour: Leave Management Cheat Codes and Hacks
The timing last night was perfect. I just finished uploading the video from last Friday’s edition of The Employer Handbook Zoom Office Happy Hour: Cybersecurity 101 for Human Resources and Employment Lawyers to The Employer Handbook YouTube Channel, and I had shifted my attention to planning the next Zoom when…
Here we go! It’s Cybersecurity 101 for HR Professionals and Employment Lawyers at Noon ET today on Zoom
I was skeptical whether readers of this blog — mostly HR professionals and attorneys — would register for this week’s edition of The Employer Handbook Zoom Office Happy Hour about … cybersecurity?!? You proved me wrong. A few hundred of you have already signed up. And there’s still time to…
Is leave with just an “expected” return to work date still considered an ADA reasonable accommodation?
This situation comes up fairly often. An employee with a disability can’t perform their job, and needs leave to recover and return to work. We know that indefinite leave is not a reasonable accommodation. But what about taking leave with only an “expected” return to work date? Is that too…
You might have to pay employees to turn on and watch their computers boot up.
I’m hitting this technology theme hard this week. And why shouldn’t I?!? We’ve got a banger edition of The Employer Handbook Zoom Office Happy Hour set for Noon ET on Friday, November 4, 2022. Along with a team of cyber-risk, privacy, and data security attorneys from FisherBroyles, we will present Cybersecurity 101 for HR Professionals…
Speaking of technology, pay attention to the National Labor Relations Board’s latest attempt to regulate employers
Shout out to the National Labor Relations Board — specifically, the Board’s General Counsel. The timing of yesterday’s announcement of her new memo to protect employees, to the greatest extent possible, from intrusive or abusive electronic monitoring and automated management practices was **chef’s kiss** It came just after I announced…
Join me on Friday, 11/4/22 at Noon ET for our next Zoom Happy Hour: Cybersecurity 101 for HR Professionals and Employment Lawyers
Last year, data breaches exposed 22 billion records, and the average cost of a hacking incident will run your business about $4.35 million. Yet, only half of companies have cybersecurity plans, and even fewer train their employees. Employers need help. So, where do you even begin? Let’s start with Cybersecurity…
Last chance to snag a free seat to today’s Zoom at Noon ET on leave rights and accommodations
If you’ve procrastinated all week, you still have a few hours to register for this week’s edition of The Employer Handbook Zoom Office Happy Hour, which returns today, October 28, 2022. We’re discussing leave rights and accommodations in hybrid and fully-remote workplaces. Click here (https://bit.ly/HybridRemoteAccommodations) to register. We lucked out with my…
When do employers risk FLSA violations by raising and lowering hourly wage rates?
The Fair Labor Standards Act can present a minefield for even the savviest wage-and-hour gurus. Last night, I read a Pennsylvania federal court decision that helps clarify when employers can (and can’t) adjust employee pay rates. The FLSA requires employers to pay non-exempt employees one-and-one-half times their regular pay rate…