Ver la versión en español aquí While having well written policies and procedures for employees is very important, these policies and procedures cannot cover every situation. Employers need to retain some flexibility. Non-negotiable rules can violate employment laws and result in very expensive claims. How expensive?… Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí As an update to this post from April, New York recently became the second state to prohibit race discrimination based on hair bias. The bill, signed into law on July 12: Prohibits race discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles; defines “race” for certain specific purposes to include, but … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí After seeing several players’ hair covering their jersey numbers during a performance of the Star Spangled Banner, former New York Yankees’ owner, George Steinbrenner, instructed the players to cut their hair. It was then, in 1973, that the New York Yankees’ grooming policy was born. The official team policy … Continue Reading
With the New Year right around the corner, office holiday parties are in full swing. While many enjoy celebrating the season, these festivities can sometimes turn into an HR disaster. To help ensure your celebrations are jolly, check out my tips on planning a fun, festive and inclusive holiday party here. Wishing you all a safe, happy … Continue Reading
Halloween office parties can be very scary- HR folks need to be particularly wary. Provocative costumes are a big “no no”; Policy violators may receive the heave ho. I guess my feeble attempt at poetry left some folks howling at the moon. Halloween is just two days away, which means we’re all one inappropriate … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí It’s that time of year again. The holidays are wonderful, but can produce some dicey situations for your HR Department. The holidays mean a lot of things to different people: whether it’s playing dreidel, decorating a Christmas tree, or doing nothing at all. Employers need to be mindful of … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí I have always been fascinated when the shy people that I know suddenly become exhibitionists when it comes to donning Halloween costumes. Whether it is a sexy French maid costume from Victoria’s Secret or Captain Underpants® (from the Dreamworks movie), adult costumes have become much edgier. Those costumes are … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí We all love factoids-right? So if you are heading out to a New Year’s Eve Party this weekend and need a few icebreakers to get the conversation going, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) has come to the rescue. The EEOC recently provided a brief review of its fiscal year … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí At the risk of reinforcing the notion of lawyers and human resources professionals as being the “no fun” bunch, we offer some practical tips to avoiding the unsuspecting tricks employers may experience after treating employees to Halloween cheer. First, while many will revel in the opportunity to wear a … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Not long ago, we blogged about social media as a blessing and a curse for employers. On the one hand, social media helps businesses market products and services; on the other, social media provides employees with an easily-accessible platform to draw negative attention to the business. To prevent (or minimize) … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí It may be 2015 but sexual harassment and religious discrimination are alive and well. Just ask the potato packers at Smokin’ Spuds, Inc. and the beer truckers at Star Transport. The EEOC just announced successful resolutions in cases against these companies. Perhaps more interesting than the spuds and the … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh were gifted actors. But the new term of the Supreme Court, which opens today, promises to generate some drama of its own as well. Somewhat lost amid the understandable attention received by the historic same-sex marriage and Obamacare rulings last year were several important Supreme … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí For the past several weeks, the country has been enthralled by the controversy surrounding Rowan County, Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis, who spent five days in jail after she refused to comply with a federal court’s directive to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Davis, an Apostolic Christian, says that … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Another sports blunder creates another blogging opportunity. In the 3rd quarter of the Los Angeles Clippers/Cleveland Cavaliers NBA game last Thursday night, the Clippers’ All-Star guard, Chris Paul, received a technical foul after he questioned a rookie referee. The referee happened to be a female, Lauren Holtkamp. Do you … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Why would an employer force its employees to tell each other “I love you” or require employees to “thank God for their employment”? According to a lawsuit filed by the EEOC in New York federal court, the owners of United Health Programs of America and Cost Containment Group subscribe … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí You be the judge . . . An Activity Aide at a nursing home transferred a resident back to the resident’s room. A non-supervisory Nursing Assistant then told the Activity Aide that the resident wanted the Rosary read to her. The Activity Aide refused and explained to the Nursing … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí A bank teller in Kentucky recently sued her employer claiming that she was fired from her job for telling every customer she met to “have a blessed day.” She was just being polite, right? Well, the bank alleges that several customers were offended by the teller’s comment. The teller also … Continue Reading
Three cases brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) highlight the importance of employers considering religious accommodations for their dress code policies. Pursuant to the law, a religious accommodation must be made as long as it does not impose an undue hardship to the employer. Two of the cases brought by the EEOC are … Continue Reading
While we would never disparage anyone’s sincerely held religious beliefs, we did not see this one coming. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently filed suit in federal court in West Virginia claiming that the use of a hand scanning time clock violated an employee’s rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of … Continue Reading
If you have not watched television or driven on any road lately, you might be surprised to learn that there is a presidential election scheduled for Tuesday, November 6. Well maybe not. This blog focuses on issues that employers should consider during the next few weeks. Florida law does not require employers to give employees … Continue Reading
Christmas music was playing in the mall this past weekend…it’s official, the Holidays are here! The Holidays are a great opportunity for your employees to celebrate and unwind after a long year. The season can also bring employment issues including but not limited to claims of religious discrimination, sexual harassment and liability for your company. … Continue Reading
Are you allowing your employees to dress up as ghosts, goblins and ghouls this Halloween? Celebrating Halloween in the workplace is a “treat” but employers should be aware of the risks. Here are some “real life” workplace horror stories: Religious Discrimination: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) sued a company for firing an employee, who … Continue Reading
