I can’t bring myself to say something quippy or clever about this …Tyson Foods ordered employees to report for work while supervisors privately wagered money on the number of workers who would be sickened by the deadly [COVID-19] virus Sworn statements in a wrongful death lawsuit tied to COVID-19 infections in a Waterloo pork processingContinue reading Bet The Company
If your company has a sudden (and very public) epiphany that letting employees expense meals from strip clubs is a bad idea, you’ve already lost. Likewise, if you think that the women at your company should be invited to events based upon their perceived physical attractiveness, you’ve already lost, too. https://deadspin.com/report-under-armour-ends-longstanding-practice-of-ex-1830238082
Fortenberry v. Gemstone FoodsIf one of your employee suffers an “adverse” outcome, don’t be surprised after the fact by a supervisor who struggles to “yeah, but…” for a valid reason. In Fortenberry v. Gemstone Foods, you’ll find a road map for how not to manage an otherwise salaried workforce. The production managers, maintenance managers andContinue reading Land Shark … I Mean, Candygram!
Big news this week, folks, big news right here in Garden City, Michigan. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals just ruled that Title VII indeed protects employees from being discriminated-against based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity. You can read the story in the Detroit Free Press right here. Unless and until the USContinue reading LGBT Discrimination is Now Officially Illegal in Michigan
No, you cannot force your employees to only speak in English. Sure, if they need to talk to customers, or if they need to convey important safety-related information between each other, you can absolutely require that those discussions be conducted in English. But while passing time in the break room? No, you cannot force employeesContinue reading Say What?
You probably remember being told this when you were in kindergarten — just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Free speech is one of the most core principles of our country. Most folks don’t understand the nuance, however, that the First Amendment only deals with the government and its inability to censor your freeContinue reading Doesn’t Mean You Should
Generally speaking, if my boss decides that my job performance is unacceptable, I can be fired for poor performance. Pretty cut and dry. But what if my poor performance is outside of my control because I have some kind of disability? The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) prohibits discrimination against an employee because of theirContinue reading It’s All About Perceptions
Most of you know that employees are generally “at will”, meaning you can hire/fire an employee at your discretion. Except, of course, you cannot fire someone “because” they were too old, too pregnant, too… you get the idea, in a protected class. Likewise, you generally can’t fire someone for exercising their Constitutional right of freeContinue reading Being Both Wrong and Evil
