What I’m Reading returns after an extended holiday break.
To follow up on my post from earlier this week on the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Michael Moore’s Pennsylvania Labor & Employment Blog comments on the record retention nightmare that this law would create for employers. Michael also has some good thoughts on compliance with the ADA Amendments Act.
In the wake of Boston College firing its head football coach after he accepted an interview with the New York Jets, Gruntled Employees has some thoughts on employee loyalty.
The Workplace Prof Blog reports on a recent NLRB decision that found an unfair labor practice from an attorney’s deposition questions.
With tongue firmly planted in cheek, LaborPains offers 10 New Year’s resolutions for labor union officials.
Where Great Workplaces Start gives us another list, the top 5 ways to be an HR hero in 2009.
The Cleveland Law Library Weblog reminds everyone that as of 1/1/09, Ohio’s minimum wage increased to $7.30 per hour.
Overlawyered brings the story of four Piqua, Ohio, employees who are suing their co-workers for their share of a $207 million Mega-Millions payout. Their claim: “The four said they were out of the office and unavailable to contribute to the office pool for the Dec. 12 drawing but allege an oral agreement that winnings would be shared whether workers happened to be around to contribute or not.”
The Word on Employment Law with John Phillips reminds us that some people simply have too much time on their hands. The evidence, an EEOC complaint alleging religious discrimination stemming from an employee’s use of “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays.”
The ABA Journal reports on a Hooters Waitress, fired for having visible bruises courtesy of some domestic abuse, who won her unemployment claim.
The Delaware Employment Law Blog asks a very important question: Why don’t employers care about employees’ internet use?
Jottings By An Employer's Lawyer compares whether recession juries are good or bad for employers. I agree with Michael that large jury awards are usually fueled by anger against the employer and not sympathy for the employee. If this is true, then lawyers picking juries for the foreseeable future will want to try to weed out those potential jurors who have been affected by the recession and harbor anger against corporations as a result.
Maybe you’ve heard, but Wal-Mart recently settled almost all of its pending 76 wage and hour class actions for a staggering $640 million. The Wall Street Journal’s Law Blog suggests that Wal-Mart might have been motivated the Employee Free Choice Act and ponied up as a preemptive strike against unionization.
Meanwhile, World of Work argues that the Employee Free Choice Act may not be as done of deal as some other commentators are suggesting.
Another hot legislative issue, family and caregiver issues, will receive special attention during President Obama’s administration, according to Corporate Voices for Working Families.
Finally, the FMLA Blog reports on a case in which the court held that an employer’s honest suspicion of employee fraud justified its insistence for a second medical opinion.