WIRTW #589 (the “Coronavirus” edition)
Does the Coronavirus freak you out? Do you think it’s the beginning of the end for the human race, way over-hyped by the media, or somewhe...
Archive: February 2020
PLEASE, I’m freaking begging you, DO NOT use social media to determine applicants’ race and gender
By Jon Hyman
Almost as long as social media has existed, employers have searched social media to dig up dirt on prospective employees. There is nothing...
Meet the new boss, same as the old, old boss—NLRB issues long-awaited final rule on “joint employment”
By Jon Hyman
Yesterday, the NLRB announced its long-awaited final rule governing joint-employer status under the National Labor Relations Act. The ru...
Just being in a protected class is never enough to protect an employee’s job
By Jon Hyman
When Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation terminated Mary Lou Stelter from her sales position, she claimed disability discri...
The 4th nominee for the “worst employer of 2020” is … the perverted Peking-duck purveyor
By Jon Hyman
Every year I worry about how I’m going to fill my annual list of worst employers. I’ve yet to be disappointed. The EEOC recently filed s...
WIRTW #588 (the “new voices” edition)
By Jon Hyman
One of the benefits participating in the Tri-C High School Rock Off is that your band gets featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s “N...
Just because an employer wins summary judgment doesn’t mean you should emulate its behavior
By Jon Hyman
Jennifer Paskert worked as a sales associate for Auto$mart, a “buy here, pay here” used car dealership located in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Durin...
“It’s a major award!”
By Jon Hyman
I hate tooting my own horn. It usually comes off as self-serving and tasteless. But, sometimes it’s unavoidable. Today is one of those day...
7th Circuit concludes employer should have advised injured employee of FMLA rights even after employee went AWOL
By Jon Hyman
Buddy Phillips injured his ribs while playing with his grandchildren. Over the next two weeks, he called his employer, United Trailers, to...
WIRTW #587 (the “joy” edition)
By Jon Hyman
On Valentine’s Day, we tend to focus (because marketing and advertising tell us that we should) on our significant other. Not to sound too...
The 3rd nominee for the “worst employer of 2020” is … the arresting retaliator
By Jon Hyman
An African-American employee claims he suffered rampant discrimination at the towing company at which he worked, including being called r...
Even though this employer won its ex-employee’s retaliation lawsuit, PLEASE don’t do what it did
By Jon Hyman
Family businesses are difficult to manage. They become even more difficult when the owners are spouses, and an employee accuses one of sex...
The Dos and Don’ts of firing an employee
By Jon Hyman
Firing people SUCKS . And anyone who tells you that they take pleasure from it shouldn’t be doing it. It’s the absolute worst part of an...
Amazon’s crackdown on employee climate-change protesters is a teachable moment on employee speech rights
By Jon Hyman
Earlier this year, Amazon threatened to fire two employees who spoke out against the company’s stance on climate change. In addition, the...
WIRTW #586 (the “silos” edition)
By Jon Hyman
Yesterday, Suzanne Lucas (aka the Evil HR Lady ), asked a question about corporate jargon. One of my least favorite corporate jargon-is...
Labor issues when you acquire a company with a union
By Jon Hyman
Spotify recently announced that it is acquiring The Ringer, one of the most prolific and popular podcasting networks. Spotify also indica...
What is the Advancing Support for Working Families Act, and why doesn’t it go far enough?
By Jon Hyman
During last night’s State of the Union Address , President Trump announced his endorsement of the Advancing Support for Working Families A...
Urine trouble: Ohio Supreme Court to decide whether an employer can require “direct observation” of a workplace urine-sample collection
By Jon Hyman
An employer requires “direct observation” of its employees providing a urine sample pursuant to its reasonable suspicion and random workpl...
Poll: how do you handle “Super Bowl Fever”?
By Jon Hyman
Today is Super Bowl Monday, the day after the big game. The game ended after 10 pm last night, and parties went much later. In light of thi...