The Employer Handbook Blog

The Top Five Sandwiches in Philadelphia #NationalCheesesteakThursday

March 23, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Today, my friends, is National Cheesesteak Thursday. Started back on Thursday, March 24, 1994, by four high school classmates of mine, this is a day to celebrate with some quality ribeye, an Amoroso roll, and your choice of American, Provolone, or Cheez Whiz.

Just never Swiss. That mistake cost John Kerry the White House in 2004.

In honor of NCT, and because out-of-towners often ask me, “Eric, what’s the best cheesesteak in Philly,” I’m gonna rank my Top 5. Heck, I’ll do you one better. I’m going to rank the Top 5 sandwiches — any sandwich — in Philly.

2d Cir: Pharmacists must inject customers. Oh, word?

March 22, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

No, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals didn’t say, “Oh, word?” But, it did just toss a $2,600,000 jury award in favor of a pharmacist in an Americans With Disabilities Act case.

Skip the vodka, but consider some other bar rules for your workplace.

March 21, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

A few weeks ago, a reader emailed me and asked if I would weigh in on how businesses should address employees talking about politics at work.

On the one hand, in the private sector, there are no First Amendment Rights. Free speech is a big myth. ( I suppose that the National Labor Relations Act could muddy the waters a bit; but, for this post, let’s pretend it doesn’t). And there’s practically nothing that would prevent a private employer from clamping down on employee discussions about politics at work.

On the other hand, an employer could violate bar rules and condone political speech. However, that could lead to problems for the employer, as in bad press or a lawsuit.

The FMLA may be amended to include leave for a parent to grieve the loss of a child

March 20, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/en/romantic-candle-flower-mourning-453802/)

A new bill, introduced last week in this U.S. House of Representatives, would amend the Family and Medical Leave Act to permit parents to take up to 12 weeks of leave to mourn the death of a child. Continue reading

Did Lyft violate Philly’s Ban the Box rules? And could this be the tip of the iceberg?

March 17, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Rideshare service, Lyft, Inc., allegedly violated Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Standards Ordinance, also known as Ban the Box, according to this press release from the law firm Outten & Golden LLP. Continue reading

Which of you hot shot lawyers wants to join an employment law panel with me?

March 16, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

You folks in HR don’t have to read any further. Go do yeoman’s work today by putting the “human” in human resources. Or whatever it is you do each day.

But, the lawyers. Let’s see if I can thaw some of your icy hearts with an irresistible invitation and offer.

Employer’s wage and hour defense foiled by a comma. Yep, a damn comma!

March 15, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

This is all a gigantic excuse to play ~~Comma~~ Karma Chameleon and Karma Police.

Doggone it! When an employee is allergic to a coworker’s service animal.

March 14, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Who knew?

I received a lot of feedback on last week’s post. That was the one about an EEOC lawsuit alleging that a company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when it allegedly failed to accommodate a disabled employee’s request to use a service dog.

Among the reader feedback was a question about what happens when permitting an employee to use a service dog would cause another employee’s pet allergies to flare up.

11th Circuit: It’s perfectly legal to discriminate against someone because she is gay

March 13, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

On Friday, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, generally considered one of the more conservative appellate courts, issued a mixed-bag ruling in a high-profile LGBT-rights case. Continue reading

SHRM Study shows that we are inching towards a better work-life balance.

March 10, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

So, I’m diligently preparing and honing my delivery ***fart*** for my FMLA/ADA presentation this Tuesday at SHRM’s 2017 Employment Law and Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, when, what do I see? It’s a new SHRM study on “employer practices, policies, programs and benefits that address personal and family needs of employees.”

Seems topical with all these rumblings of paid leave coming from the White House.