Friday, May 22, 2009

WIRTW #80


This week’s most popular topic is the Supreme Court’s AT&T v. Hulteen [PDF] decision. That case held: “An employer does not necessarily violate the PDA when it pays pension benefits calculated in part under an accrual rule, applied only pre-PDA, that gave less retirement credit for pregnancy than for medical leave generally.” I agree with Michael Fox that “[i]f the case had gone the other way, it is possible to imagine how it could have had broad ramifications. However, given its narrow holding, it seems unlikely to be very important beyond its impact on the parties.” For more details and commentary, click over to the following laundry list of employment blogs: California Workforce Resource Blog, Connecticut Employment Law Blog, Daily Developments in EEO Law, Delaware Employment Law Blog, Labor & Employment Law Blog, LawMemo Employment Blog, Nolo’s Employment Blog, SCOTUS Blog, Workplace Prof Blog, and World of Work.

Social networking and its impact in the workplace continue to be a hot topic among employment bloggers:

  • Where Great Workplaces Start suggests that employees maintain separate on-line profiles for their personal and professional lives.

  • BLR’s HR Daily Advisor provides a concise primer on workplace web 2.0 issues.

  • HR World discusses the natural disconnect between employers and employees on the issue of social networking.

  • The ABA Journal reports on the legal issues of Twitter.

  • Dan Schwartz at the Connecticut Employment Law Blog compiled a list of 10 employment law twitterers to follow.

  • For those that tweet, you can follow me @jonhyman.

In related news, Robert Ambrogi at the Legal Blog Watch notes that a New Zealand judge has okayed service of process by Facebook.

Sindy Warren at the Warren & Hays Employment Blog discusses the recent trend in courts protecting transgendered employees.

Donna Seale’s Human Rights in the Workplace gives the following very good advice – have regular harassment training.

Natalie Beck at the Employeescreen IQ Blog talks about the dangers that lurk when companies skip background checks.

Kris Dunn, The HR Capitalist, gives his very pro-business take on the EFCA’s binding arbitration requirements.

The Iowa Employment Law Blog lists some challenges HR will face this year.

Fair Labor Standards Act Law suggests that employers read the fine print in their EPL policies to check if wage and hour claims are covered. My guess, based on past experience, is that they are not.

Frank Roche’s KnowHR Blog asks, “How do you handle weirdos at work?”

Finally, Texas attorney Michael Maslanka at Work Matters quotes the Talmud for some words to live by for employers and employees alike: “What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary.” In other words, follow the golden rule and all else should fall into place.


Presented by Kohrman Jackson & Krantz, with offices in Cleveland and Columbus.

For more information, contact Jon Hyman, a partner in our Labor & Employment group, at (216) 736-7226 or jth@kjk.com.