Apple employee gaffe illustrates risk posed by YouTube videos in protection of trade secrets
An Apple employee lost his job this week after his daughter, Brooke Amelia Peterson, posted a YouTube video of her dad’s brand new, unrelea...
Archive: October 2017
Ohio lawmakers consider safe harbor for cybersecurity compliance
By Jon Hyman
If the Equifax data breach hasn’t scared your company into cybersecurity compliance, Ohio lawmakers are considering dangling you a complianc...
WIRTW #482 (the “a bet is a bet” edition)
By Jon Hyman
It’s been a couple of weeks since baseball’s evil empire, otherwise known as the New York Yankees, knocked my beloved Cleveland Indians out ...
When should HR call its lawyer?
By Jon Hyman
Yesterday, I read When is an Employee Issue a Legal Issue (and When Is it HR)? , written by Dan Schwartz on his always excellent Connect...
Not all swearing at work is created equal
By Jon Hyman
According to a recent survey , 57% of American employees admit to swearing at work. (To me, that seems low. Also, count me in the “yes” co...
Bill O’Reilly claiming victim status is WHY we have a harassment problem
By Jon Hyman
Over the weekend, the New York Times reported that Bill O’Reilly paid $32 million to settle a claim of sexual harassment brought against hi...
The 23rd nominee for the “worst employer of 2017” is … the cake boss
By Jon Hyman
As we wind down the year toward voting to name the first annual “Worst Employer of the Year,” I thought I had all bases covered. Then I re...
WIRTW #481 (the “proof of concept” edition)
By Jon Hyman
When a commenter starts his thoughts with “Hey faggot,” you know you have one for the internet-troll hall of fame. A couple of months ago ...
When is a break not a break under the FLSA?
By Jon Hyman
The FLSA draws a pretty clear line as to when breaks must be paid, and when they can be unpaid. If a break 20 minutes or less in duration,...
No, you do not need a workplace emoji policy
By Jon Hyman
I read a blog yesterday that asked the following question? “ Do you need a workplace emoji policy? ” They say yes , I say an unequivocal n...
Weinstein case highlights problem of “ostriching” harassment
By Jon Hyman
It’s been a busy few days in employment-law land, with the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment case dominating the headlines. What have ...
There is no *good* reason to be anti-LGBTQ rights
By Jon Hyman
Last week I presented a webinar entitled, “The Top 10 Employee Handbook Mistakes.” I discussed, among other policies, missing at-will dis...
WIRTW #480 (the “another Fake ID” edition)
By Jon Hyman
Indulge me, as this morning I once again take off my employment-law blogger hat, and replace it with my proud dad / music blogger hat. Fak...
Do you know what to do when an employee dies on the job?
By Jon Hyman
It’s news an employer never wants to deliver. “I’m sorry, but your spouse (or partner, child, or other family member) had an accident at w...
Jemele Hill story underscores employees lack of understanding about personal social media and work
By Jon Hyman
Social media has irreparably torn down the wall that has historically separated one’s work life from one’s personal life. Earlier this w...
It’s coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE: 12 steps for your employees to become cyber-aware
By Jon Hyman
Do you remember the movie When a Stranger Calls ? The movie opens with a babysitter receiving a telephone call from a man who asks, “Have ...
What to do when your Harvey Weinstein harasses your employees
By Jon Hyman
By now you’ve likely heard about the decades of harassment allegations levied against storied Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein . Over t...
WIRTW #479 (the “pod” edition)
By Jon Hyman
I am recently back on the podcast wagon. For reasons that I never understood, I abandoned the platform as a media source a few years ago. Bu...
Sometimes a banana is just a banana, and sometimes you're liable for harassment
By Jon Hyman
An employee grabs a co-worker’s penis and pokes another employee with a banana protruding from the zipper of his pants. Should the employe...
Accommodating employees should be a common sense issue
By Jon Hyman
I spent a high-school summer working on a warehouse loading dock. One of my co-workers was named Harland Jester. (I provide his name becau...
The 22nd nominee for the “worst employer of 2017” is … the wage absconder
By Jon Hyman
Suppose you decide you are not going to pay your employees minimum wage and overtime required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. And let’s f...
Just try to curb your enthusiasm about this post on the ADA and attendance
By Jon Hyman
On last night’s season-nine premier of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Larry David was faced with this age old problem. How does an employ...