Every employer hires staff with certain expectations about production targets, approach, behavior and other metrics. The company may also find it helpful to add accountability policies to an employee handbook or contract. A carefully worded and properly enforced...
Employment Law
U.S. Women’s soccer gets equal pay
The United States Women’s National Soccer Team has been a dominant force in soccer and women’s sports for decades, winning several World Cups and drawing large crowds to its matches and high television ratings. Still, the players filed a class-action lawsuit against...
6 questions that are off-limits for potential employers
Federal anti-discrimination laws apply to all aspects of employment and hiring practices. Applicable laws also address seemingly neutral policy that negatively affects protected groups. While there are some exceptions, these laws help to ensure that employers'...
Court rules that Walmart illegally fired greeter in Maine store
A three-judge panel of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of an employee who worked as a greeter in the Windham outlet. She was fired for what she claims were excused absences, which management claimed were not, related to ongoing symptoms from a...
New pregnancy protection bill in Congress
Pregnant workers deserve every accommodation to work and support their families without risk to their health. This entitles the female worker to financially prepare for the arrival of a new dependent. Unfortunately, employers do not always agree and some will find...
Hiring best practices need to address virtual interviews
The pandemic has changed the way that nearly every company currently does business. One notable change that likely will not go away is the use of video conferencing. We’ve become comfortable with (or at least used to) using video platforms to conduct meetings with...
Professor alleges ADHD discrimination
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibits discrimination based on an individual’s disability. Employers must provide reasonable accommodations for employees with documented mental or physical impairment. It also guarantees that people with...
Massachusetts woman starts craft beer industry reckoning
There are some common trains of thought when considering the craft beer industry. Some may contemplate the abundance of great hop-forward New England IPAs out there as well as dark, complex stouts, fruity sours and other unusual types. Another may involve burly men...
Uneven progress on STEM job diversity
The so-called STEM occupations involving science, technology, engineering and math are in some of the most lucrative and in-demand fields. According to a new study by the Pew Research Center, the workforce has remained chiefly male-dominated with much higher...
Tips for circumventing wrongful termination claims
Employers have a lot of leeway with at-will employment here in the Northeast. However, employees may not see it that way and accuse the company of wrongful termination. Using an abundance of caution, businesses can often protect themselves from such claims. What is...