Friday, October 31, 2008

WIRTW #54


As I celebrate the Phillies first World Series title in 28 years, and Philly’s first title in any of the major sports in 25 years (believe it or not, the Phillies, Eagles, 76ers, and Flyers played a combined 9,029 games without producing a championship until Wednesday), we move our attention to more mundane issues, like next week’s Presidential election. Given the lack of media coverage over the last few months, I’m sure November 4 has snuck up everyone. So, I’ll try to catch everyone up on the labor and employment implications of next week’s vote:

  • The Word on Employment Law with John Phillips gives us one last look at where the candidates stand on various pieces of legislation that impact employers.

  • The HR Capitalist focuses on one key issue likely to be taken up by Congress early in 2009, the Employee Free Choice Act, and gleans some lessons from converse legislation in England three decades ago.

  • The Workplace Prof Blog gives its take on politicking by employers, captive audience meetings for employees warning about the dangers of an Obama administration and how it could cause more economic pain by making it easier for unions to organize.

BLR’s HR Daily Advisor reminds everyone that it is fairness, and not the technical ins and outs of the law, that matters most to employees and juries.

On an issue I’ve spent some time discussing this week already, Law.com clues everyone in that the time is nearing to re-learn the ADA.

Fair Labor Standards Act Law addresses a very interesting issue, whether time waiting for a computer to boot at the beginning of the work day in considered “hours worked” under the FMLA.

The Connecticut Employment Law Blog asks what happened to the flood of ERISA fiduciary litigation that was supposed to come in the wake of Larue v. Wolff.

The Labor & Employment Law Blog reports that the Department of Homeland Security has reissued its final rule on the No-Match Safe Harbor Regulations. Recall that it was first issued last summer, and enjoined by the 9th Circuit. The rules have been in limbo since, and the new rules aim to address the 9th Circuit’s concerns.

The Federal Civil Practice Bulletin examines a decision that denied a motion to dismiss in a Title VII racial harassment case.

Will end this week with a little humor – HR World presents the annual list of the best employee excuses for missing work. The best, in my humble opinion:

  • Employee said he had a heart attack early that morning, but that he was “all better now.”
  • Employee was kicked by a deer (better not to ask for details).
  • Employee contracted mono after kissing a mailroom intern at the company holiday party and suggested the company post some sort of notice to warn others who may have kissed him.
  • Employee’s wife burned all his clothes and he had nothing to wear to work.
  • Employee was up all night because the police were investigating the death of someone discovered behind her house.
  • Employee’s psychic told her to stay home.