The cost of violating ADA rules about medical inquiries and exams can get potentially steep. It may include back pay – even if the employee never claimed to have a disability. That may seem counterintuitive, to say the least –…
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Employers may need to reverify certain employees’ Form I-9 documents due to recent changes from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Specifically, DHS revised the temporary protected status (TPS) that it’d previously designated for two foreign countries. By way of…
A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court makes it easier for employees to revive a dismissed lawsuit in some situations. It’s important for employers to know when the ruling applies – and not to get too comfortable when an…
Learning that a Form W-2 contains errors is bad enough, but being assessed a penalty by the IRS is even worse. Errors can show up in many ways. For example, employers might enter incorrect information, such as the amount of…
New Jersey’s highest court has ruled that commissions are always wages under the state’s Wage Payment Law, reviving a sales employee’s chance for a potentially huge payout. The ruling cautions employers to carefully articulate for employees how non-salary compensation will…
When companies fail to enforce harassment policies, the cost isn’t just financial – it’s a hit to reputation, employee trust and legal standing. Walmart just learned this the hard way, agreeing to pay $415,112 to settle a lawsuit brought by…
A federal judge has denied SkyWest Airlines’ bid for a new trial and upheld an order that the company pay $300,000 in damages to a former parts worker who said she was sexually harassed. The ruling came after the EEOC…
Like good frontline employees, every good supervisor is unique. The best supervisors come with some common traits that make them succeed. Even better, they often have the ability and willingness to learn more and become better. And those are some…
A leaked spreadsheet helped secure a $28 million equal pay settlement. Here’s what happened, according to a press release from Gunn Coble LLP, a civil rights law firm in Los Angeles. Google has agreed to pay $28 million to settle…
Employees may not understand lifestyle spending accounts (LSAs) as well as you think. That can lead to questions or just confusion. This relatively new, customizable fringe benefit allows companies to give employees a set amount of spending money, with at…
The term “illegal DEI” has been a hot topic in HR since President Trump took office and issued several executive orders that aim to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in both the public and private sectors. As a…
A contract security solutions provider headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, has agreed to pay $1.6 million to settle an EEOC lawsuit that alleged sex discrimination. The problem, according to the agency, showed up in HR's internal communications. Here’s what happened –…
A federal court in Pennsylvania rejected a white employee’s claim that his employer created a hostile work environment by subjecting him to anti-racism training. The case provides good insight as to how courts analyze claims of hostile work environment based…
Dangerous work and employees with disabilities aren’t always a bad mix. In fact, these employees often can do a stellar job, sometimes with the help of a job accommodation. However, when a disability significantly threatens safe job performance regardless of…
In a final rule, the Department of Homeland Security increased the penalties for violations of federal immigration law. With enforcement of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) on the rise, it's crucial to ensure compliance so you can steer clear…
President Trump’s executive orders aiming to dismantle DEI initiatives in the public and private sectors have caused widespread debates and confusion. Here’s a quick recap on what’s happening: Andrea Lucas, the EEOC’s newly appointed Acting Chair, declared that one of…
