Life without a Department of Labor isn't as efficient as some will tell you

What happens if the Department of Labor vanishes? It's not some dystopian fantasy—it's an actual possibility under Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's "Department of Government Efficiency." They could eliminate the DOL entirely. The pitch? Let states handle it. The reality? It's a disaster waiting to happen.

Leave us bald guys alone!

This one hits close to home. In Tony Finn v. British Bung Company, a UK tribunal ruled that calling a man "bald" constitutes sexual harassment. Why? Because baldness disproportionately affects men, the comment was deemed inherently tied to sex. The insult—a crude "bald c---"—was judged degrading, offensive, and gender-based.

But let's take this across the pond. Would a U.S. court agree? 

WIRTW #739: the 'rage against the machine' edition

In this week's episode of The Norah and Dad Show, my daughter and I discuss how we're feeling in the aftermath of the 2024 election. Hint: it's not great. Sadness, anger, acceptance … we work through our stages of grief throughout a tight 25 minutes.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Overcast, the web, and anywhere else you get your podcasts.

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If you missed the live broadcast of this week's webinar on how the election will shape employment law in 2025, with host Eric Meyer, Dan Schwartz, Amy Epstein Gluck, Dessi Day, and me, our gracious host posted the video to YouTube. You can watch the replay — once, twice, on an endless loop until you have it memorized — here.

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Here's what I read this week that you should read, too.

10 Things to Include in Your Artificial Intelligence Policy — via hr bartender

Apparent AI Hallucinations in AI Misinformation Expert's Court Filing Supporting Anti-AI-Misinformation Law — via The Volokh Conspiracy

ChatGPT's search engine might end your dependence on Google — via Boy Genius Report

Have the Trump-ets Sounded for AI Regulation Protecting American Workers? — via The L•E•Jer

The 2024 Election and Small and Independent Breweries — via The Brewers Association

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have spelled out their plans for DOGE — via The Verge

5 Ohio Law Schools Drop Their Diversity Scholarships and Programs — via Above the Law

What the Election Tells Us About How Employers Should Support Worker and Family Health — via EntertainHR

Déjà vu all over again: a Texas federal judge erased the new OT rules nationwide — via Eric Meyer's The Employer Handbook Blog

How Will the U.S. Election Outcome Affect Labor Law? A Deep Dive into the NLRB's Future — via Employment Law Worldview

Bad Dough: N.J. Bakery Hit With $385K Fine by OSHA For Not Fixing Workplace Safety Dangers — via Joe's HR and Benefits Blog

GLP-1 drug coverage for obesity making inroads with large employers — via HR Dive

One Use of the "N-word" Lands an Employer in a Jury Trial – Lessons to Learn — via California Employment Law

Bluesky Captures My Attention Like Twitter Did 18 Years Ago — via Real Lawyers Have Blogs

We Asked 10 Beer Pros: What’s the Biggest Red Flag at a Brewery Taproom? — via VinePair

DOL confirms the obvious — the FMLA covers time off spent in clinical trials

Can employees use FMLA leave to participate in clinical trials for their serious health conditions? Of course, they can—how is this even a question?

In a recent opinion letter, the Department of Labor confirmed what feels like common sense: treatment provided during a clinical trial counts as treatment for a "serious health condition" under the FMLA. If an employee is eligible for FMLA leave and the trial addresses their condition, the statute covers their absences—end of story. It doesn't matter if the treatment is experimental, uses a placebo, or hasn't yet proven effective.

"Biological Women Only" = "Whites Only" = Discrimination

Can someone please explain the difference between labeling a women's restroom for "biological" women and labeling one for "white" women? Because I fail to see any difference between these two blatantly discriminatory scenarios.

Rep. Nancy Mace recently affixed the former label to a restroom in the Capitol and introduced legislation requiring people to use Capitol bathrooms that correspond to their sex assigned at birth.

When asked about her actions, Mace openly admitted that her intent was to target Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. This kind of targeting is bigoted, unacceptable, and unlawful.

New NLRB Ruling: Employer "captive-audience speeches" on unionization are now illegal

In a significant decision, the NLRB ruled that requiring employees to attend anti-union meetings under the threat of discipline or termination violates their Section 7 rights. This is a short-term victory for unions and employees—but the landscape may shift again soon.

In Amazon Services LLC, the NLRB held that these mandatory meetings unfairly pressure employees to participate, infringe on their right to choose freely, and create a chilling effect that deters workers from exercising their rights. The Board noted that such meetings amplify an employer's economic power over employees, adding coercion to the message.

Background checks aren’t just a box to tick—they’re critical to any hiring process

Picture this: a high-profile hire for one of the most important jobs in the world, and nobody bothered to run a background check. That’s reportedly what happened when Trump tapped Pete Hegseth, a Fox News personality and former army officer, as his Secretary of Defense. While the details of the story are unfolding, there are in his past allegations of sexual assault (that Hegseth denies), a settlement payment, and a nondisclosure agreement. 

It’s a striking reminder of something every employer should know: background checks aren’t just a box to tick—they’re critical.

WIRTW #738: the 'bluer skies' edition

Do you ever think to yourself, "Jon, I love your posts, but what I really want is more of this, but with fewer characters." Well do I have the thing for you. While I've been off Twitter for the past year, you can find me microblogging on both Threads (@thejonhyman) and Bluesky (@thejonhyman.bsky.social). Give me a follow and I'll be sure to follow back.

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Don't forget to pre-register for this coming Tuesday's webinar on how the election will shape employment law in 2025, with host Eric Meyer, Dan Schwartz, Amy Epstein Gluck, Dessi Day, and me. It's free, but you do need to pre-register here.

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Here's what I read this week that you should read, too.

Does civility still matter?

Some apparently don't think civility matters any more. 

"Your body, my choice" signs are popping up across the country, while elsewhere Black students are receiving anonymous texts about "picking cotton." The results of the 2024 Presidential election have emboldened some to express their most offensive thoughts.

I'm not ready, however, to give up on civility. But we have to take a stand. No matter who sits in the Oval Office, words still matter.

Do you know what to do if ICE raids your business?

With Donald Trump running on campaign promise of the mass roundup and deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants, many businesses in the new year may face unannounced visits from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Donald Trump has said that he plans mass deportations on day one, meaning that "if ICE shows up" could become "when ICE shows up" for employers across the country. Are you ready?

Having a response plan in place is essential, and it's crucial that your staff, particularly those who may first encounter agents, like a receptionist, are trained on what to do. Here's how to get started:

WIRTW #737: the 'speed racer' edition

Do you remember your first traffic ticket? I do. I was 17, driving to high school, and it involved me hitting an actual, live person with my car at the tender age of 17. To hear the rest of the story, and also hear all about my daughter's inaugural ticket, you'll have to tune into this week's episode of the Norah and Dad Show Podcast, which you'll find on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Overcast, the web, and anywhere else you get your podcasts.

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In other news, on Tuesday, 11/19 at noon, I'll be part of an all-star panel of employment lawyers that my friend Eric Meyer is hosting. He and I, along with Dan Schwartz, Amy Epstein Gluck, and Dessi Day, will be discussing how the election will shape employment law in 2025 and beyond. It's free to join, but you do need to pre-register here.

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Here's what I read this week that you should, too.

A open letter to my daughter

Dear Norah,

"Dad, I'm scared." That was your message to me in the early hours of Wednesday morning, as you watched the election slip away from us.

I understand. You're scared for your rights—your reproductive rights, your right to privacy, and the rights of your friends to love and marry whomever they choose. You're scared because you're beginning to feel like a majority in your country sees you as "less than." They treat you, value you, as "less than."

Seeing you hurt like this breaks my heart. You feel crushed, betrayed by the country you call home.

Here's what I want you to know. 

A tip on employee tips

Here's a tip for management — keep your hands off of your employees' tips.

A recent case filing by class of employees against a cannabis company accusing management of pilfering their tips. The Department of Labor and the Fair Labor Standards Act, however, are crystal clear: tips belong to the workers who earn them, period.

How to keep a union out of your business

Workers are organizing at unprecedented rates. From October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board received 3,286 union election petitions, up 27% from the year prior and more than double the number received in 2021. Much of the push comes from service industries like retail, education, and healthcare. Union drives, however, don't start in a vacuum. They happen when employees feel ignored, underpaid, or disrespected.

Here's the hard truth: The best union-avoidance strategy isn't about playing defense or hiring fancy consultants to "bust" a union. It's about being a great employer, period.

Service charges: A hidden trap for employees (and customers)

You just wrapped up a great meal at your favorite restaurant. The server drops off the check, and there's a surprise—your $100 tab is now $120, thanks to a $20 "service charge" added at the bottom. But here's the kicker: under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), that service charge isn't considered wages for your server. The restaurant can legally keep it all without sharing a dime.

When employees just can't get along

Dan and Todd? They used to be best friends. But things got messy, and now they can't stand each other. Dan's ready to move on, but Todd? Not so much. Problem is, they work on the same team you manage, and now Dan's knocking on your door, hoping you'll step in and fix things.

Sure, you could tell them, "Just avoid each other and carry on." Sounds easy, right? Why make two people who aren't friends anymore work together if they don't want to? But here's the catch: avoiding this issue might be an easy short-term fix, but it's not a long-term solution that actually works. In most workplaces, people can't just steer clear of each other, especially if they need to interact on the daily.

So instead of hoping it all blows over, try these steps to get Dan and Todd back on the same page professionally—even if the friendship ship has sailed.

Harassment by "comedy" is anything but a laughing matter

A CEO hires a stand-up comedian to warm up employees before delivering the keynote at the company's annual all-hands meeting. But the comedian's set is anything but workplace appropriate. His "jokes" insult and offend everyone — Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, Muslims, women, LGBTQ+ individuals. Everyone, that is, except white men.

It's clear your employees aren't amused. Some look angry and offended. Others walk out in protest.

Now imagine you're the CEO. What do you do?

WIRTW #736: the 'vote' edition

On the latest episode of The Norah and Dad Show, my daughter and I discussed voting. Specifically, we discussed Norah's experience voting, which she did for the very first time when she was home for fall break a couple of weeks ago.

My wife and I accompanied Norah to early vote in the Presidential Election. It was quite the party at the County Board of Elections, with a massive crowd, along with bells and cheers for first-time voters.

Voting is an act that might appear small, but it's actually monumental. It is a right that I've always taken seriously, and it's one of those moments that makes you reflect on the values you've tried to instill as a parent. Standing alongside Norah at the polls, I thought about the conversations we've had over the years—about fairness, democracy, and the importance of using your voice. She now gets to make her voice heard in a new, impactful way.

Watching your child become an active participant in our democracy is a proud moment. It's not just about the issues or the candidates on the ballot (although with this election it kind of is); it's about her stepping into adulthood with a sense of responsibility and purpose. I hope it's an experience that she'll carry with her every time she goes to the polls in the future.

👉 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Overcast, the web, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. 

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In other news, the Lake Ridge Academy soccer team ... lost, in heartbreaking fashion. A 0-0 draw through 80 minutes of regulation, 30 minutes of scoreless overtime, and penalties that did not go our way. Congrats for a great season, even though it did not end the way they (and I) wanted.

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Here's what I read and listened to this week that you should, too.

The 12th nominee for the Worst Employer of 2024 is … the hurricane haranguer

What's worse than keeping employees on the job during a natural disaster? How about doing that, knowing full well how dangerous the situation is—and sneaking out yourself before things hit the fan? Impact Plastics and its CEO, Gerald O'Connor, seem to have written the playbook on reckless disregard for human life.

The company and its fearless leader have now been sued by the family of Johnny Peterson, one of their employees tragically killed during the floods caused by Hurricane Helene. According to the lawsuit, management allegedly forced workers to stay at the plant, ignoring the increasingly dangerous conditions. While businesses around them shut down and sent employees home, Impact Plastics thought it was a great time to keep their team on the clock.

And when did they finally decide to send workers home? After the parking lot flooded, power was lost, and the full brunt of the storm was bearing down on them. Too little, too late.

"Why would you want to do a man's job?"

"Why would you want to do a man's job?" That's one of the sexist questions the EEOC alleges Waste Industries—a solid waste removal, recycling, and landfill service provider—repeatedly asked female job applicants.

As a result, the company agreed to pay $3.1 million to settle the agency’s pattern-or-practice sex discrimination claim.