Thursday, October 10, 2019
A little kindness goes a LONG way
Earlier this week I was in Philadelphia with my family for my son’s cardiac procedure. During our visit, we stayed at the Sonesta Philadelphia (because I’m a hotel snob and it was the only non-big-chain hotel that offered a special rate for the families of CHOP patients).
At check-in, the desk clerk, Rachel, asked what brought us to Philly. “Nothing great,” I reported. “My son is having a heart procedure on Tuesday.” “So sorry to hear,” she responded. “Please let me know if we can do anything to make your stay more comfortable.”
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Wednesday, September 18, 2019
When investigating misconduct, you don’t have to overturn every stone, but you also can’t ignore the obvious ones
Unless you're a wine nerd, you likely haven't heard about the cheating scandal that has rocked the Court of Master Sommeliers, the nonprofit governing body that administers the group’s exams.
For the uninitiated, the Master Sommelier diploma is the highest distinction a fine wine and beverage service professional can attain. To obtain the diploma, one must pass a three-part exam that includes an oral theory examination, a deductive blind tasting of six wines, and a practical wine service examination. The exam is so hard that there are only 262 professionals worldwide who have ever passed.
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Wednesday, July 3, 2019
4 ways your employees are like a new puppy
We are on day 5 of new puppy in the Hyman household. Dante is adjusting well, as are we (including big sister Loula … more or less). It’s been 7 years since we last raised a puppy. And the thing I forgot the most is just how many rules there are.
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Monday, April 1, 2019
What I learned on my Spring Break
I just returned from eight days in Italy. It was a whirlwind Spring Break tour of Rome and Florence. We covered a lot of ground — per my Apple Watch, 63 miles and 140,000 steps, to be precise. And we saw a lot of stuff — the Vatican, the Colosseum, lots of beautiful churches, lots of ancient sites and ruins, and (almost) too much pizza, pasta, and gelato (but never too much wine).
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Monday, November 26, 2018
On the 12th day of Christmas, my employer gave to me … a handgun?
'Tis the season for giving. What's the oddest holiday gift an employer has ever given you? For the employees of one Wisconsin company, the answer might just be a handgun.
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Thursday, November 8, 2018
A resignation in lieu of termination is (more or less) still a termination
"At your request, I am submitting my resignation."
So wrote now-former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in his resignation letter to President Trump.
Yet, no one reasonably believes that Sessions resigned. "At your request, I am submitting my resignation" is a termination, period.
Clients ask me all the time, about an at-risk termination. "Jon, what if we just have him resign? He can't sue us for discrimination, then, right?"
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Monday, November 5, 2018
Managing Election Day at work
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Monday, October 22, 2018
What you need to know about your office lottery pool
Late Friday afternoon (when the Mega Millions was only a mere billion dollars), I received a phone call from Brian Duffy, a reporter from our local CBS affiliate. "We are doing a story on office lottery pools. Are you the right person for me to interview about some of the legal risks?"
Two hours later, he was sitting in my living room with a cameraperson, interviewing me.
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and sometimes your employees make porn at work
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Wednesday, March 14, 2018
How your problem employee is like an old hot water tank
Last night, my hot water tank died. It was old (14, to be exact).
During his shower, I heard Donovan yell, “Dad, there’s no hot water, and I’m freezing!” On a hunch, I traveled down to the basement, which is where I found puddles on the floor under and around the tank.
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Monday, March 5, 2018
A lesson on how to terminate an employee, care of David Brent.
In my opinion, the original British version of The Office is far superior to its American counterpart, in large part because David Brent is so much more cringe-worthy than Michael Scott.
I thought I’d start the week off with a little humor (and a little lesson), care of David Brent, via one of the most awkward employee terminations ever.
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Employers win when they support the Sandwich Generation
I am declaring today New Year’s Day 2.0.
To put it bluntly, the first 16 days of 2018 sucked. I need a do over.
This has been my 2018 to date.
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Your employees are your brand ambassadors; train them accordingly
“Dad, can you take me to the craft store?”
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Wednesday, November 8, 2017
What’s the worst employee exit you’ve ever seen?
There is a right way to quit a job, and a wrong way to quit a job.
Last week, a Twitter employee demonstrated the worst of the latter.
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Thursday, October 26, 2017
When should HR call its lawyer?
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Wednesday, August 16, 2017
How much wasted work-time is too much?
According to a recent survey conducted by OfficeTeam, on average, employees spend 8 hours per workweek on non-work activities.
What does this non-work time look like?
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Monday, July 17, 2017
What I learned on my summer vacation
Saturday evening my family and I returned from our two-week California vacation. Five nights in Los Angeles, two in Paso Robles (if you ever pass through, I cannot more highly recommend Sculpterra Winery and the Paso Robles Inn), three in Palo Alto (where Donovan participated in a research study seeking a link between Noonan Syndrome and ADHD, and which resulted in both of my kids now wanting to attend Stanford … best of luck to them and me), and three in San Francisco. We had epic adventures, experienced Disney (of course), hiked and biked, enjoyed beautiful scenery, reunited with family and friends, and walked … a lot (72 miles to be precise).
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Tuesday, June 6, 2017
R-E-S-P-E-C-T (just a little bit)
I ain’t gonna do you wrong while you’re goneYesterday, my friend and fellow blogger (with whom I tend to agree most of the time), Suzanne Lucas (aka Evil HR Lady), posted an article about which I could not agree more, Why You Should Rarely Fight an Unemployment Claim.
Ain’t gonna do you wrong ‘cause I don’t wanna
All I’m askin’
Is for a little respect
– Aretha Franklin, “Respect”
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Communicating with employees is key when a PR crisis strikes
Lots has been said about how United Airlines mishandled violently dragging a passenger from an overbooked flight. And none of it is good. Yet, make no mistake, how United CEO Oscar Munoz communicated with his company’s employees immediately following the incident did not do anything to make it any better.
United CEO email to employees obtained by ABC's @Shahriar44R: "there are lessons we can learn from this experience" pic.twitter.com/N1TbohuRc3— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) April 10, 2017
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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Monday, March 27, 2017
Bring me the head of employment at will
At his always excellent Connecticut Employment Law Blog, Dan Schwartz recently asked the following question: “What Does ‘At Will’ Employment Really Mean?”
Dan argues that while employment at will is still a valid legal doctrine, if a judge or jury cannot view your termination as “fair”, then they will look for another (illegal) justification for your decision. That examination may not go your way.
For more information, contact Jon at (440) 695-8044 or JHyman@Wickenslaw.com.
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