Employment Law


Recent Employment Law Articles

Judge Orders Re-Hiring of Workers Fired for Facebook Complaints

A National Labor Relations Board judge says workers fired for off-duty griping about their jobs on Facebook should be re-hired.  Read more

Would You Fire Someone for Planking?

A GameStop employee posts a photo of himself planking, and gets himself and the co-worker who took the picture, fired.  Read more

Would You Fire Someone for Refusing to Get a Flu Shot?

Some Michigan hospitals are making flu shots and other vaccines mandatory for employees.  Read more

Would You Fire Someone for Taking Garbage?

An Iowa convenience store employee took no-longer-saleable soup from the dumpster to feed to her dog--and was fired.  Read more

Is Your Dress Code Discriminatory?

A 61-year-old lifeguard is suing for age discrimination after he was fired for refusing to wear a Speedo.  Read more

When Can You (Legally) Fire an Employee for a Twitter Rant?

The short answer: When you're prepared to accept it's a risk.  Read more

Would You Fire an Employee for Trying to Secede From the Union?

A veteran Sarasota Police homicide detective tried to secede from the union. He didn't break any laws, though he may have violated his oath of office. Earlie...  Read more

Employee Retaliation Suit Reaches Supreme Court

Eric Thompson was fired by his company three weeks after his wife, also an employee of the company, sued for gender discrimination. He claims it was no coinc...  Read more

Gas Station Cashier Fired for Wearing "Say No to Bongs" Shirt

Kenneth McAllister wore the homemade t-shirt to protest his employer's decision to sell bongs and bags of fake marijuana.  Read more

Labor Board Backs Workers' Right to Bad-mouth Bosses Online

In what could be a precedent-setting case, a federal agency says employees' right to gripe online is protected.  Read more

Does Your Part-Time Employee Qualify for Overtime?

Laws that apply to employees who work even a few hours a week can be tricky to follow. As more businesses hire part-time help, here's how to avoid a problem.  Read more

Do Employee Complaints Have to Be Written Down?

The Supreme Court hears a case on what constitutes a formal employee complaint filed under the Fair Labor Standards Act.  Read more

Supreme Court's Docket Puts Business in the Spotlight

A look at five pending cases that have the potential to change the way you do business.  Read more

Would You Refuse to Hire Someone Wearing Dreadlocks?

The U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission is suing a Virginia company for denying a job to a Rastafarian who wouldn't cut his hair because of his reli...  Read more

How to Comply With the Americans With Disabilities Act

Breaking down what the decades-old act means for small businesses.  Read more

Would You Fire an Employee for Refusing to Disclose Her Weight?

An Iowa woman takes a stand against her employer on privacy -- and loses her job for it.  Read more

Sexual Harassment Complaints by Men Surge

Even as the overall number of complaints drops, men are increasingly calling foul. What are you doing to protect your company from lawsuits and liability?  Read more

Stop Enforcing Noncompetes

Because we need to promote competition for labor and talent among start-up companies in fast-growing industries.  Read more

Is It Legal To Use Social Network Data When Hiring?

Many start-ups use their Social Network contacts to find additional workers. Why not? Someone's friend of a friend is probably that chef, programmer or ad...  Read more

Court Backs Employers on Unpaid Bonuses

A state court rules that employers who are sued over some unpaid bonuses are not subject to stiff penalties associated with wages.  Read more

If You Own the Phone, You Can Read the Text Messages

A new Supreme Court ruling says employees' text messages are open to company scrutiny.  Read more

How to Manage an Office Bully

The news that former eBay CEO Meg Whitman settled a lawsuit with an employee whom she allegedly shoved has shined a spotlight on office bullying. Here's what...  Read more

Would You Fire an Employee Over a Negative Facebook Post?

A pizza restaurant raises hackles – and consciousness – about corporate social media policies by letting a waitress go for ranting about a customer.  Read more

Novartis Verdict Opens Door for More Gender Bias Lawsuits

The Swiss pharmaceutical company's total damages bill could top $1 billion - a figure meant to deter it and anyone else from discrimination in the future.  Read more

Business Groups Mum on Kagan

The American Enterprise Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and other business groups have so far found little to criticize in the background of Obama's...  Read more