Pennsylvania

Why would a judge have awarded UC benefits to a white guy fired for making racial slurs?

June 15, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: Pixabay.com (https://pixabay.com/en/eyes-surprise-wow-expression-open-312093/)

Yesterday morning, I read my friend Jon Hyman’s post on LinkedIn about a lawsuit in which a person of color alleged that various supervisors and managers:

Frequently called him the “n-word”;
Told him to “reach his black hands out” while handing him a box; and
Offered him a banana while saying, “Monkeys like bananas.”

Allegedly, a group of white employees also hung a sign in the workplace that said, “WHITE ONLY.” Continue reading

I’m gonna throw a little employment law at this Matt Patricia – Detroit Lions Sexual Assault saga

May 11, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

By Governor Tom Wolf from Harrisburg, PA [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

On February 5, 2018, the Detroit Lions named former New England Patriots Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia as the team’s new Head Coach.

Maybe, Lions ownership missed Super Bowl LII and the 41 points that the Philadelphia Eagles dropped on Mr. Patricia’s garbage Patriots defense.

Oh, sorry.

The Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots, which gave the Eagles one more Super Bowl win (1) than the Dallas Cowboys have total playoff wins in the last 20 years (0), is not the point of this post.

The point is that, on Wednesday, Robert Snell of the Detroit News reported (here) that Mr. Patricia was indicted for aggravated sexual assault in 1996, something missed in the Lions background check.

And the real question is… Continue reading

Want to see me testify today on harassment and sexual misconduct in the workplace? Here’s how…

April 24, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Ad Meskens [Attribution, CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], from Wikimedia Commons

I’ll be testifying today before the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee at a public hearing on harassment and sexual misconduct in the workplace. Continue reading

Bookmark This: Starbucks and a lesson on leadership and accountability

April 17, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Screenshot taken from https://news.starbucks.com/views/a-follow-up-message-from-starbucks-ceo-in-philadelphia

Starbucks was riding a pretty good HR streak in 2018. Among other things, the coffee giant had attained 100% gender and racial equality and announced investments in paid leave. Yep, things were lookin’ really good for Starbucks.

Then, last week, things got really bad. Continue reading

Lawsuit: No, it’s not okay to access a vacationing co-worker’s social media at the office

February 21, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

https://www.theemployerhandbook.com/files/2018/02/maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com-Facebook-Mobile-Texting-Smartphone-Facebook-Lite-3021068.jpg

Facebook Mobile Texting Smartphone Facebook Lite (Image Credit: http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/Facebook-Mobile-Texting-Smartphone-Facebook-Lite-3021068)

During a week-long vacation from work, a Pennsylvania woman claims that some colleagues logged into her Facebook account from work and reviewed her Facebook Messenger messages, among other things. The woman further claims that when she returned to work from vacation, her employer fired her because “things had come to light.”

And now she’s suing in federal court.

The first cannabis stores in PA are opening. It’s time to re-educate employers on what that means.

February 15, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: Pixabay.com

It’s been a while since we addressed the legalization of medical marijuana in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and what that means for employers. It was about two years ago to be precise.

Last October, I presented on this topic at the SHRM Lehigh Valley “annual” October Conference. But, many of you weren’t there. And, with the first medical marijuana dispensaries opening for business this weekend, this seems like as good a time as any to update my Pennsylvania peeps on what that means for your workplace.

(The rest of you can connect with me on LinkedIn.) Continue reading

In hindsight, maybe re-hiring the guy who allegedly drugged and assaulted a female co-worker was a bad choice.

February 1, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: Pexels.com

You know what? Strike that. Milk was a bad choice.

When a car dealership allegedly rehired the guy who supposedly drugged and assaulted a female co-worker — now the plaintiff in this action — it bought itself a viable hostile work environment claim. Continue reading

What does it take to be individually liable for discrimination? A lot.

January 16, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: Photofunia.com

Most discrimination lawsuits involve a single, individual plaintiff and, on the other side of the “v,” a company as the sole defendant. But, sometimes, that plaintiff will name additional individual defendants too, such as a manager, supervisor, or even someone from Human Resources.

When that happens, what are the chances that the individual will end up legally responsible with the plaintiff prevails at trial?

I love the smell of Sour Patch Kids and the False Claims Act

January 4, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

You know, I don’t think we’ve ever discussed the False Claims Act here at The Employer Handbook.

I don’t think we’ve discussed crowded clown cars either. And, while clowns may pique more interest, alas, this is an employment-law blog. So, I suppose we’ll enjoy our first taste of FCA together.

Kinda tastes like Sour Patch Kids. Continue reading

LGBT bias costs one employer the maximum amount allowed by law

November 27, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Hi there.

Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?

Notwithstanding Thursday’s feast, I rallied hard over the weekend. Indeed, I needed my energy up to check some boxes on my older daughter’s Christmas list. (She claims that number one is commonplace in Canada. I’m not so sure).

But, I’m taking a break from the shopping to wax employment law for you. Today, I want to get into LGBT rights at work. Continue reading