This blog has contained a number of posts about sex in the workplace, the mishandling of sex harassment complaints  and related matters–most recently happenings that involve the Ohio Attorney General’s office.  (Click here for the latest post, which has links to previous posts.)
A matter that has come to light in Los Angeles doesn’t involve an employment situation (at […]

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I wouldn’t bet on it.  An internal investigation report issued today on the sex harassment scandal in the office of the Ohio Attorney General has resulted in the firing of two employees (and close friends of the Attorney General) and the resignation of another.  (Click here, here, and here for other posts on this matter.)
But what about the Attorney General?  One […]

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I suppose the first kind of workplace violence was the old-fashioned workplace fight.  Fights still happen at work.  Sometimes, they involve some pushing and shoving.  Sometimes, blows are thrown and landed.  Fights obviously aren’t what you want going on at work–ever.
Almost all employers have rules against fighting on the job.  If you have a handbook, it’ll be in the handbook.  […]

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Whirlpool has suspended 39 employees in Indiana who were seen smoking after declaring themselves eligible for a $500 annual tobacco-free health insurance discount.  (Click here for more.)  Most large employers that have corporate wellness programs involving rewards and fines have generally relied on the honor system, as opposed to investigations or surveillance.  What some see as […]

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The Vicar of Christ reads my blog?  The Bishop of Rome surfs the Web for advice given to him?  Pope Benedict XVI decides to set an example for CEOs everywhere?  Do miracles still happen?
On April 16, I posted “The Pope and Employment Law,” admonishing the Pope for not meeting with victims of the priest sex-abuse […]

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Boston Globe April 18: Pope meets with abuse victims

TIME: The Pope Tackles the Sex Abuse Issue
look for updated posts on this in The Word on Employment Law
It’s often said that there are two topics to avoid–if you want to also avoid controversy: politics and religion. If you’re a reader of this blog, you know I […]

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There have been previous posts on bullying in the workplace and on this year’s political scene. In the Delaware Employment Law Letter, there’s an article comparing workplace bullies with certain political types who are also bullies. It’s a clever and helpful look at dealing with certain kinds of bullies in the workplace. Check it out.
DELAWARE […]

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As noted previously on this blog, it’s sometimes difficult to get supervisors and managers to do performance reviews and handle discipline in an honest, timely fashion.  Even when honesty and timeliness aren’t shortcomings, something else tends to fall through the cracks.
If an employee is disciplined, she is told, one way or the other, to change her ways.  […]

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In case you haven’t heard, a reporter on MSNBC remarked last week that Chelsea Clinton was being “pimped out” (presumably by her mother) when the young Clinton was asked to call celebrities and ask them to support Senator Clinton.  MSNBC and the reporter have apologized.  The reporter has been suspended indefinitely.  Click here, here and here for more […]

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When you suspend or fire an employee, what do you tell his co-workers?  Different human resources professionals and employment lawyers will provide different answers to this question, which means there’s room for disagreement.
Here’s my answer.  You tell them something.  If you don’t, the rumor mill will kick into high gear.  All kinds of stories will be […]

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