Regular readers of the newsletter are aware employers must ensure inappropriate conduct by a customer or vendor isn't creating a hostile work environment (see "Costco learns customer may not always be right" in the March...
Employment Law Letter
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued guidance on returning to work for businesses deemed nonessential. The guidance is intended to supplement the agency's previously issued guidance on...
It's safe to say our nation is in uncharted territory when contemplating how to establish a work-life balance while homeschooling and caring for children, keeping up with the demands of "work from home," and facing an...
Because of a female candidate's poor interview performance, the Wright County (Minnesota) Sheriff's Department wasn't liable for promoting a less experienced male candidate, the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals (which...
The First Amendment protects private religious schools from employment discrimination claims filed by teachers whose duties include religious education, the U.S. Supreme Court recently decided. The opinion combined two...
With the economy largely reopened but COVID-19 cases continuing to increase, some businesses are concerned about lawsuits from customers and guests who may be exposed to—and subsequently become ill from—the coronavirus...
Q Can a person receiving unemployment benefits refuse to accept a job offer if it's 25 miles from her home? A person receiving unemployment benefits can refuse a job offer if the job being offered isn't considered...
Employers are protecting employees’ health and safety from COVID-19 by requiring or encouraging them to work from home, but you should be aware the arrangement can pose an unintended consequence: employee burnout. If you...
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee or applicant “because of . . . sex.” There has been a decades-long debate in courtrooms and corporate offices across...
It has been a long and tragic spring and summer for employers as well as society at large. The coronavirus pandemic sent legions of workers to the unemployment rolls, and others had to learn how to do their jobs remotely...
What's the world of work going to look like in the weeks and months ahead? Some workplaces in some parts of the country will be farther along the road to recovery than others, but few will go back to being just like they...
The 4th Circuit (whose rulings apply to all North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia employers) recently revived an employee's lawsuit alleging his employer capped his commissions for three large deals despite...
On June 15, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark opinion that’s a huge win for LGBTQ advocates—and it was well-timed, given that it was right in the middle of Pride Month. The Court ruled that a federal law...
For businesses whose bottom lines depend on research, innovation, and being the first to market, noncompetition agreements are an indispensable component of the onboarding process. But as a new hire becomes a long-term...
By now, Michigan employers know they need to have a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan when they resume in-person operations. They understand they must provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and make cleaning...