What does Elmo have in common with a former four-star general? They both need refresher courses on the proper use of email.
-
Former CIA chief David Petraeus resigned his post after an email chain revealed an extra-marital affair. Petraeus and his paramour are claimed to have set up Gmail accounts to communicate with each other.
-
Kevin Clash, the voice of Elmo, is taking a leave of absence from Sesame Street amid now-retracted allegations that he engaged in a relationship with an underage teen. According to the Sesame Workshop, an investigation revealed that Clash “violated company policy regarding internet usage.” One of the offending work-sent emails: “I’m sorry that I keep talking about sex with you, it’s driving me insane.”
The lesson should be obvious, but apparently needs repeating—Think Before You Click. (Hey, that’s a good name for a book … or a Sesame Street skit).
For some other thoughts on these stories-of-the-week:
- Lessons from the David Petraeus scandal — from Work Matters
- General David Petraeus Not Very Good At Cyber Defense — from Kashmir Hill’s The Not-So Private Parts
- How CIA Director David Petraeus's Emails Were Traced (and How to Protect Yourself) — from Lifehacker
- David Petraeus, Mike Leach and the Art of the Investigation — from YourHRGuy
Here’s the rest of what I read this week:
Discrimination
- What Remedy Is Appropriate When a Jury Concludes Sexual Harassment Occurred? — from Dan Schwartz’s Connecticut Employment Law Blog
- Two Pregnant Employee Terminations in Two Months Too Coincidental for Southern District of Ohio — from Employer Law Report
- EEOC scores another big hit against inflexible leave policies — from Employer Legal Advocate
- Transgender Bathroom Battles—Coming Soon to Your Workplace — from HR Daily Advisor
- Frequent Use Of The “N-Word” Does Not Create A Hostile Environment If Only Made In “Jest” — from Employment Discrimination Report
- Time For Your Sexual Holiday Party — from Social Media Employment Law Blog
- Word to the wise: Centralize ADA accommodations decision-making — from Warren & Associates Blog
Social Media & Workplace Technology
- Obama's re-election evokes ugly Facebook-racism from some employees — from Eric Meyer’s The Employer Handbook Blog
- Facebook Party Pics Doom FMLA Claim — from Phil Miles’s Lawffice Space
- Court Orders Broad Discovery of Class Members' Social Media, Text Messages & Email — from Electronic Discovery Law
HR & Employee Relations
- Why Ms. X Is Leaving BigLaw: Busy Mom Details Untenable Schedule in Departure Memo — from the ABA Journal
- An Overwhelmed Mother’s Departure Memo — from the New York Times Motherlode blog
- Today Show Report Highlights Room for Improvement — from Nick Fishman’s employeescreenIQ Blog
- Workplace Investigations: The Employee’s Lawyer’s Perspective — from WinWinHR
- My boss doesn’t understand that I have kids — from Evil HR Lady, Suzanne Lucas
- Employees Love It, But Does a 4-Day Workweek Work For Your Business? — from TLNT
- Smoking in the Boys’ Room: You’re Fired! — from Blogging4Jobs
Wage & Hour
- Independent Contractor Misclassification Should Remain Key Area of Concern for Employers — from Wage & Hour Defense Blog
- Starbucks Gets a Triple Shot of Damages as $14.1 Million Wage-and-Hour Award Upheld — from Smart HR Manager
- Are Employers Required to Compensate Employees for On-Call Time? — from Minnesota Employer
- 6th Cir. Affirms Dismissal of FLSA Gotcha Litigation — from Molly DiBianca’s Delaware Employment Law Blog
- Facebook Pictures of Employee Socializing at Local Festival Drown Her FMLA Claims — from Jeff Nowak’s FMLA Insights
Labor Relations
- The NLRB will be active in the non union workplace and more visible to the public — from John Holmquist’s Michigan Employment Law Connection
- Mandatory Employment Arbitration Clauses: Clearing the Hurdles, Part II — from The Emplawyerologist