Final Word on Employer Wellness Plans

Employee wellness plans are a hot item these days.  Increasingly, wellness plans are seen as a benefit to both employees and employers alike. As many employers jump on the bandwagon of this growing health trend, they should be aware of the other legal implications of creating and implementing these programs within their company. For example, a popular topic ever since the EEOC issued its proposed regulations last year has been how employee wellness programs can comply with existing regulations such as the ADA and Title …

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Facebook + FMLA Leave = Termination

Had a great vacation? Post it on Facebook. Fun surfing? Post that too. Swam some laps while on FMLA leave due to a shoulder injury? You should probably keep that one to yourself. Employers continue to struggle with balancing their own marketing interests with the interests of employees in maintaining a social media presence. Of course, an employee’s use of social media may not always comport with an employer’s interests as identified in its social medial protocols or otherwise conflict with accepted practices. Take for …

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Wrongfully Reviewed?  Risks of Performance Review Process

Performance reviews are a necessary step in the path to ensuring a team of productive employees.  However, as illustrated by a series of recent lawsuits filed by Yahoo employees against the internet giant, performance reviews are not without risks to the employers who administer them. In one such suit, an employee alleges that he and approximately 600 other Yahoo employees were unfairly fired based upon an allegedly unfair performance evaluation system, and were terminated without the notice required by federal and state laws, including the …

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Pitfalls of Arbitration Clauses in Employee Handbooks

An employee handbook is a necessary and familiar workplace fixture. A recent trend among employers is the inclusion of a mandatory arbitration clause, to avoid a jury trial in the event of employment-related litigation.  Both state and federal courts have recently grappled with the validity of arbitration clauses in the employment litigation realm, and have both concluded that such clauses are not enforceable.  These cases serve as a reminder that an employer must be vigilant should it wish to make such a clause part of …

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Bathroom (Unpaid) Break: FLSA Foul Up

A dispute over unpaid bathroom break time at the office has resulted in an employer flushing away some $1.75 million as a result of violating the FLSA. The case arose when the Labor Department filed suit against a publisher after discovering that its employees were not earning the $7.25 hourly minimum wage during “personal breaks.” Pursuant to the employer’s policy, employees were required to clock out while using the bathroom, getting a drink or similar breaks.

The publisher argued that federal law did not require …

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Professional Liability for Employee Misconduct

Professionals are often entrusted with access to personal and financial information from their clients.  Professionals take great care to ensure that they protect this information from disclosure and that they comply with ethical guidelines regarding proper use of client funds.  However, even when professionals fully comply with the rules, there may be occasions where employees or other individuals who have access to the information through their professional employer use it for an improper purpose.  While professionals cannot always prevent employee misconduct, the actions they take …

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Liability for Improper Use of Database

Many professionals have access to online databases that store information not readily available to members of the public.  These databases are a valuable tool for professionals who need additional information about a person for litigation purposes or for other lawful use within the course and scope of their professional practice.  While these databases are only intended to be used for professional use, it is generally possible to access them for non-work-related purposes.  This improper use of otherwise legitimate databases raises potential civil and criminal repercussions …

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The DOJ on D&O: What You Need to Know

In September the Department of Justice released its new directive on individual accountability for corporate wrongdoing in a revived effort to fight corporate fraud.  The “Yates Memo” by Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates, outlines the DOJ’s policy on targeting and pursuing corporate executives in cases of corporate wrongdoing.  With the DOJ’s new guidelines companies should be taking a fresh look at their D&O insurance.

The Memo identifies the following six key steps to strengthen the Department’s pursuit of corporate wrongdoing:

  • To
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Fashioning Employee Schedules: Employees Question Compensation Practices

Technological advancements have impacted employee scheduling in certain industries. Notably, employers with access to real-time data that suggest the level of expected business on any given day may require employees to be “on call.” But, in a recent lawsuit against clothing retailer Forever 21, employees allege they’ve been subjected to “exploitative” scheduling practices regarding so-called “on call” shifts. Comparable suits have recently been filed against other fashion retailers like Victoria’s Secret and BCBG Max Azria, regarding similar policies.

On-call shifts require employees to call a …

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Religious Objectors: Employer’s Duty to Make Religious Accommodations

Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis was recently jailed due to her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples. In other news, a flight attendant refused to serve alcohol due to her religious beliefs. The public reaction to both situations was intense and the debate well-publicized. These events also highlight a new wave of confusion regarding the requirements facing employers with respect to religious accommodations. The answer for employers can differ widely depending upon the industry, jurisdiction, legislation and the specific interpretation of the …

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