Hurricane Matthew: A reminder for employers to create emergency action plans

The storm should serve as a wake-up call for employers who may not know their responsibilities or have an effective plan in place.

By Tom Starner • Oct. 7, 2016

Court allows class action certification in Google ageism case

The plaintiff in the case is Cheryl Fillekes, who said she interviewed for four different jobs and obtained none of them due to her age.

By Tom Starner • Oct. 7, 2016

Chobani jumps on the paid parental leave bandwagon

Chobani's 2,000 employees are the latest group of workers to be granted paid family leave at a time when the issue has become especially politically charged.

By Ryan Golden • Oct. 6, 2016

EEOC and Justice Dept. offer diversity-building report to law enforcement agencies

Public and private HR could take a few tips from the report on how to improve workforce diversity generally.

By Tom Starner • Oct. 6, 2016

New Labor Dept. report calls for potential federal oversight of workers' comp

The report comes after various states have attempted to install alternatives to the traditional workers' comp system.

By Tom Starner • Oct. 6, 2016

Internet of Things requires close scrutiny for privacy, data security

IoT in the workplace is running ahead of current employment law.

By Tom Starner • Oct. 5, 2016

It's official: Federal contractors must offer paid sick leave

The final rule applies to all covered contracts solicited and awarded on or after Jan. 1, 2017

By Tom Starner • Sept. 30, 2016

EEOC's pay data reporting rule launches March 2018

The EEOC's proposed changes to annual EEO-1 reports signal a need for employers understand the landscape of state equal pay laws.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 30, 2016

ICE H-1B New Jersey lawsuit: Another hurdle for visa program advocates

ICE charged a New Jersey IT firm with abusing H-1B system after an audit revealed the company may have misclassified foreign workers as full-time employees.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 30, 2016

Supreme Court's limited employment case docket could grow quickly

Class action waivers for arbitration agreements may be one issue that eventually gets picked up.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 28, 2016

Labor Dept. sues tech firm that helped bring down Bin Laden

The Labor Dept. is suing the Silicon Valley startup, Palantir Technologies, for discriminating against Asian job candidates.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 28, 2016

Why employer 'duty of care' policies may need a fresh look

Recent geopolitical events are driving many employers to rethink and update their regulations for international employees.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 27, 2016

WeWork changes handbook language, settles NLRB case

It was one of two pending NLRB cases for the company.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 27, 2016

Dollar General hit with $277K in ADA case damages

Dollar General, a large retail chain, made the decision to fire a diabetic worker for violating a "no grazing" policy. It cost them nearly $300,000 in a jury trial.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 26, 2016

Social security data collection remains a challenge for self-insured employers

Employees don't often cooperate when asked for their SSN. But there are options for struggling employers.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 26, 2016

House bill looks to delay overtime rule change by six months

But it will face a veto even if passed.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 26, 2016

Quitting or retiring are now equal under California's timely final paycheck law

Employers failing to promptly pay final wages may be subject to "daily waiting-time" penalties.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 23, 2016

Survey: 36% of employees do not log in hours worked

That data point does not bode well for employers considering the overtime exemption rule's Dec. 1 deadline.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 23, 2016

Labor Dept. data modernization comment deadline extended two months

Various stakeholder groups requested the comments extension given the scope and significance of the proposed forms revisions and regulatory amendments.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 22, 2016

FLSA overtime rule facing 21-state lawsuit

Officials claimed the Obama administration's initiative will place a "heavy burden on state budgets."

By Tom Starner • Sept. 21, 2016

Fantasy sports leagues require similar employer strategy to other e-distractions

While the article mentions the idea of conducting internal office pools (no entry fees, etc.) as a way to build culture, managing that could be problematic.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 20, 2016

Court rules that employee hairstyles are not protected by Title VII

There are many ways employers can cross the line when it comes to discriminatory hiring, but so far, 'race-neutral' grooming policies are safe.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 19, 2016

Why the fast food industry gets extra Labor Dept. scrutiny

The Labor Dept.'s Wage and Hour Division gives fast food employers a closer look on FLSA compliance, and it says there is good reason for it. The industry, of course, doesn't agree.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 16, 2016

H-1B visa overhaul measure derailed

The complication, and the reason why employers who are H-1B dependent should pay attention, is that the language included cash bonuses in the wages.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 16, 2016

Oklahoma Supreme Court ends the state's workers' comp alternative

The court ruled 7-2 that the alternative gives employers the authority to single out injured workers for inequitable treatment and is therefore unconstitutional.

By Tom Starner • Sept. 15, 2016