The Employer Handbook Blog

On this Belated #GivingTuesday (a/k/a Wednesday), please consider supporting the Homeless Advocacy Project

November 29, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

STACKED_0 Yesterday was Giving Tuesday. According to Wikipedia, Giving Tuesday is a movement to create an international day of giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season. Well, since I’m a self-promoting, selfish you-know-what, I missed it.

Feeling bad, and hoping to corner the “Belated Giving Tuesday” (a/k/a Wednesday) market, I’m gonna appeal to your sense of charity to consider donating to a worthy cause. No, I’m not shilling for my kids’ iPhone X fund. Rather, I’m asking that you consider donating to the Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP). Continue reading

ABA Journal inducts The Employer Handbook into its Blawg 100 Hall of Fame

November 28, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: ABA Journal

I stand here before you —

Ok, I’m sitting at my computer. In bare feet and sweatpants. Continue reading

LGBT bias costs one employer the maximum amount allowed by law

November 27, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Hi there.

Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?

Notwithstanding Thursday’s feast, I rallied hard over the weekend. Indeed, I needed my energy up to check some boxes on my older daughter’s Christmas list. (She claims that number one is commonplace in Canada. I’m not so sure).

But, I’m taking a break from the shopping to wax employment law for you. Today, I want to get into LGBT rights at work. Continue reading

Ranking the Thanksgiving turkey(s) and sides: The Employer Handbook Top 20

November 22, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

This is not up for debate. Continue reading

Want to keep settled sexual harassment claims confidential? It may cost you tax dollars.

November 20, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Last week, I wrote here about proposed legislation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that would outlaw confidential settlements of sexual harassment claims.

Now, the feds are getting into the act. Continue reading

New bill would ban confidential settlements of sexual harassment claims in Pennsylvania

November 17, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

https://fast.wistia.com/embed/iframe/luqsn92lu0

One of your supervisors has just been accused of sexual harassment. Rather than spend the money to litigate the case, your company decides to settle. Let’s go through the standard provisions:

Settlement payment
General release
Non-admission
Mutual non-disparagement
Mutual confidentiality

Ah, not so fast on that last one if your business is in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Continue reading

I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news

November 16, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

The good news is that I get to play an 80’s rock ballad (youtube, Spotify) as I share with you the bad news that, by the time you read this post, you’re most likely SOL for signing up for “The Employment Law Year in Review,” a free webinar on Thu, Dec 7, 2017 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST.

That’s right, my dudes!

I started advertising the webinar on Monday and, just like that, buh-bye to 1000 attendee slots. I can’t imagine what the secondary market for tickets to next month’s big event must look like right now. Wonder. Wonder. Continue reading

Outside law firm defending company in FMLA claim gets sued for FMLA interference

November 15, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Wait! That’s not a thing now, is it? IS IT!!!

I’ll be right back. I need to find my special set of “clutching” pearls.

VP of HR fired for a Trump tweet still manages to collect unemployment benefits

November 14, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

Back in 2016, Kathleen M. Jungclaus was the full-time Vice President of Human Resources for a Pennsylvania continuing care retirement community. She had worked for the company since 2007.

On July 24, 2016, Ms. Junclaus went on her personal Twitter page and tweeted: “@realDonaldTrump I am the VP of HR in a comp outside of philly [sic] an informal survey of our employees shows 100% AA employees voting Trump!”

A little over two months later, Ms. Junclaus found herself unemployed and applying for benefits. Continue reading

JOIN US: “The Employment Law Year in Review,” a free webinar on Thu, Dec 7, 2017 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

November 13, 2017 | by Eric B. Meyer

I had one date circled — one date between now and the end of the year.

Later this week, on November 17, Netflix releases Marvel’s The Punisher. If you’ve ~~dorked out~~ gotten culture with any of The Defenders series, then, like me, you’ve been chomping at the bit for this release. But, if you need some enticement, check out the official trailer for Marvel’s The Punisher. It opens with Frank Castle as an early contender for Father Of the Year, teaching his kid Metallica on an acoustic guitar. Seconds later, Castle’s entire family is dead and he’s talking about infiltrating a covert CIA operation. And, at the 1:22 mark of the trailer, we have this exchange between Frank Castle and a sidekick:

Sidekick: You and me, we want the same thing. So, work with me.

Frank Castle: On one condition. I’m gonna kill ’em all.

Sidekick: Yeah, I can live with that.

Dammit, Netflix! Stop twisting my arm! Cause, it hurts so good.

***blows smoke and starts chewing bubble gum cigarette***

Now, if you’re going to circle one other date on the calendar, may I suggest December 7? Yep, I’ve buried the lede long enough. Continue reading