Author Archives: Site Administrator
11th Circuit Update: Discrimination, Whistleblower
Claude R. Short v. Mando American Corporation, _____F.3d _____ (11th Cir. February 27, 2015). Brief Summary: This is an employment discrimination case brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), 42 U.S.C. § 2000 et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 1981 (§ 1981), and state tort law. The case involved… Read More »
8 Steps to Take to Get a Promotion
While working hard and generating results may eventually earn you that coveted promotion, there are other ways to speed the process along. Learn what proactive steps you should be taking to ensure career advancement. Demonstrate a strong capacity for growth. Identify 3-4 areas in your work that will enable you to grow in your… Read More »
Employers: What You Need to Know about HIPAA
With the possibility of facing staggering fines for violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, organizations are well advised to fully understand HIPAA’s privacy and security rules and what is required of them. Which employers have to comply with HIPAA? Employers that sponsor one or more self-insured, HIPAA-covered group health plans—group… Read More »
President Obama: In Favor of Expanding Overtime Laws
In March 2014, President Obama issued the Labor Secretary an executive order to rewrite the overtime exemption rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). With these new rules on the immediate horizon, it is important to know what is likely to change and what critics and proponents are saying. The two main changes… Read More »
What to Do When an Employee is Caught Stealing
When an employee is caught stealing, it is critical for an employer to have a specific and consistent response, both from a legal and a discrimination perspective. While this situation may not have occurred in your company, it is important to acquaint yourself with the pertinent guidelines should it unfortunately happen in the future…. Read More »
When Can You Use Your Workplace Email?
While some employees may be harboring an assumption of privacy at work, it is important to recognize that this is not always the case. Here’s one way to think about it: during the workday, the employer owns your time. Anything you do, your employer has the right to look at and understand what is… Read More »
11th Circuit Update: Workers’ Compensation, Unpaid Overtime
Morales v. Zenith Ins. Co., No. 12-11755 (11th Cir. 2015) (January 22, 2015) Brief Summary: Recovery of wrongful death judgment against an employer is barred by insurance policy exclusion of injuries covered under workers’ compensation law. In Morales v. Zenith Ins. Co., Leticia Morales brought a breach of contract claim against Zenith Insurance Company… Read More »
5 Telecommuting Tips for Employees and Employers
While telecommuting has the power to increase overall productivity, strengthen business relationships and enrich employee benefits, it requires a shift in behavior and structure for both employees and employers. Learn some tips for maximizing the success of telecommuting endeavors. Employers should: Establish policies and expectations up front. Consider things like ongoing training, flexible hours,… Read More »
Reasons that Qualify for FMLA Leave
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons in a 12-month period, with no disruption in group health insurance. Since not every reason qualifies for FMLA protection, it is important to understand the types of events… Read More »
When is Work Travel Time Compensated?
Jobs can entail a fair amount of employee travel time- only some of which is considered “work time”. The portion of travel time that may be compensable is regulated by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in nine federal regulations, 29 C.F.R. §§ 785.33 – 784.41. Read on to learn what qualifies and what doesn’t…. Read More »