Articles on workplace-related issues from newspapers and Internet news sources around the country. We are unable to update this page at this time, but hope to resume updating it soon.
November 7, 2009
Jump in Productivity Puts Job Creation in Doubt
Source: Martin Crutsinger, San Luis Obispo
Companies across the economy are finding ways to do more with fewer workers, dimming hopes that hiring will take off anytime soon. Employers became leaner and more efficient in the third quarter. Wages, meantime, remain flat or falling. The result is that productivity - output per hour of work - jumped at the fastest pace in six years.
November 6, 2009
Battered Company Says 'No' To Job Cuts
Source: Jon Greenberg, NPR
Late last year, production of ships and cars pretty much ground to a halt. And sales of cutting systems at Hypertherm dropped 50 percent. How many workers did the company lay off? None.
Tyson Foods Violated Labor Law
Source: Darryl A. Hughes, CNN Money
An Alabama jury found that Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN) violated federal labor law by failing to appropriately pay production-line employees. The jury ordered Tyson to pay $250,000 in back wages.
November 5, 2009
Expansion Homebuyer Tax Credit & Jobless Benefits
Source: Stephen Ohlemacher, USA Today
Buyers who have owned their current homes at least five years would be eligible for tax credits of up to $6,500. First-time homebuyers — or anyone who hasn't owned a home in the last three years — would still get up to $8,000. The bill would also provide every American running out of unemployment insurance benefits this year with an additional 14 weeks of payments.
Workers Changing Jobs, Some Cash Out 401(k)
Source: David Pitt, Baltimore Sun
Millions of workers take a huge chance with their retirement savings every year: They cash out their 401(k) accounts when they lose their jobs or move to new employers. When people cash out, a chunk of their money just disappears.
Woman Forced to Wear Diapers to Work
Source: Stephanie Farr, Philadelphia Daily News
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20091105_Forced_to_don_diapers__wins_150G_settlement.html
November 4, 2009
Health Care Debate Focuses on Legal Immigrants
Source: Julia Preston, New York Times
The debate over health care for illegal immigrants continues to percolate in Congress despite the Obama administration's efforts to put it to rest, with lawmakers in both houses also wrangling over how much coverage to provide for immigrants who have settled in the country legally.
Importance of EFCA Labor Law & NLRB
Source: John Crawley, Reuters
Obama administration appointments to a key labor board are important to labor's agenda, but they do not diminish pending legislation that would make it easier for unions to organize, the president of the United Auto Workers said on Tuesday.
Tim Dahle Nissan to Pay For Sexual Harassment
Source: EEOC, EEOC
Tim Dahle Imports, doing business as Tim Dahle Nissan of Sandy, Utah, will pay $455,000 and furnish substantial remedial relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.
November 3, 2009
3 Strong Economic Reports Lift Recovery Hopes
Source: Paul Davidson & Stephanie Armour, USA Today
A bevy of reports on Monday attested to a recovering economy, with manufacturing activity, pending home sales and construction spending all exceeding expectations.
After Gender Bias, Women Face Gender Fatigue
Source: Jane Merriman, Reuters
Women have come a long way in the workplace, helped by legislation and the recognition by many companies that diversity and gender is something they should "get." But diversity's move into the mainstream corporate world has its disadvantages. It can make more subtle discrimination harder to spot and tougher to deal with.
Lawry's Will Pay to Settle Suit
Source: Jerry Hirsch, LA Times
The Lawry's chain of high-end steakhouses will pay more than $1 million to settle a federal discrimination lawsuit contending that for decades it hired only women as servers, the government said Monday.
November 2, 2009
Time May Be Right for White-Collar Unions
Source: Anita Bruzzese, The Beacon News
Could a union be coming soon to a cubicle near you?
While unions often have been associated with the factory floor, the current congressional and presidential support of unions, along with a disillusioned professional labor force, may mean that the time is ripe for unionization to move into new territory -- the white-collar arena.
Obama Strategy on Health Care Seems to Pay Off
Source: Robert Pear & Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times
After months of plodding work by five Congressional committees and weeks of back-room bargaining by Democratic leaders, President Obama's arms-length strategy on health care appears to be paying dividends, with the House and the Senate poised to take up legislation to insure nearly all Americans.
OSHA Issues Record-Breaking Fines to BP
Source: Diane Petterson, US Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced it is issuing $87,430,000 in proposed penalties to BP Products North America Inc. for the company's failure to correct potential hazards faced by employees. The fine is the largest in OSHA's history. The prior largest total penalty, $21 million, was issued in 2005, also against BP.
October 30, 2009
Source: Bowdeya Tweh, Northwest Indiania Times
Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses stood at a rate of 4.9 incidents per 100 workers, down from 5.2 incidents a year earlier. The rate has been on a steady decline since 2001, when the rate was 7.4 incidents per 100 workers. The state labor department said the 2008 result was the lowest since it began to track in this method since 1992.
Workers Deserve Time Caring For Loved Ones
Source: Eva Henry, News Tribune
When my daughter was 10 years old, I needed three days off from my job as a loan officer at a credit union because she was having major surgery for chronic ear infections. As a mom, I knew that a child recovers faster when she has a parent by her side. I knew that I needed to be with my daughter. But I also knew that I needed my job.
Wiccan Says Firing Was Religious Bias
Source: Christine Stuart, Courthouse News
A sales manager says she was fired unfairly for making her annual religious pilgrimage to Salem, Mass., to celebrate the Wiccan New Year. She claims her boss told her, "You will need a new career in your new year. ... I will be damned if I have a devil-worshipper on my team."
October 29, 2009
First-Time Jobless Filings Decline
Source: Associated Press, New York Times
The government said Thursday that the number of people claiming jobless benefits for the first time dropped slightly last week, evidence that the labor market remained weak even as the economy is recovering.
U.S. Labor Agency Considers New Airline Union
Source: Reuters, Reuters
National Mediation Board, a U.S. federal labor-management relations agency, is considering a proposal to allow airline workers to form unions with the majority approval of those voting, Bloomberg news agency said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Hobby Lobby to Pay for Disability Bias
Source: Staff, Kansas City infoZine News
The EEOC announced that Chief Judge Michael J. Davis has approved and directed the clerk of court to enter a consent decree resolving an EEOC lawsuit under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) against Hob-Lob, Limited Partnership, which does business as Hobby Lobby. In the lawsuit, the EEOC contended that Hobby Lobby refused to allow an employee with mobility limitations to perform her job while in a wheelchair.
October 28, 2009
Job Gains Signal Stimulus Impact
Source: Brad Heath & Matt Kelley, USA Today
States have reported using stimulus money to create or save more than 388,000 jobs so far this year, buttressing the Obama administration's claim that the $787 billion plan has had a significant impact on the economy.
Tougher Immigration, Lack of Worker Protections
Source: Suzanne Gamboa, Baltimore Sun
Workplace immigration raids during the Bush administration interfered with ongoing labor investigations and allowed employers to exploit workers who complained about conditions on the job, labor groups said in a report released Tuesday.
Female Executive Sues For Gender Bias
Source: Johnathan Stempel, Reuters
A former top female executive at Anheuser-Busch InBev NV has sued the world's largest brewer for gender bias, accusing it of paying women less than men while maintaining a "frat party" atmosphere.
October 27, 2009
Source: Tom Raum, Baltimore Sun
The government will release figures this week expected to show that the economy has awakened from its deepest slump since the 1930s and is in the early stages of a recovery. But the following week, the government will issue another set of figures expected to show unemployment continuing to rise toward and possibly above a clearly recessionary 10 percent.
Workplace Bullying Is Increasing
Source: Mkay Bonner, The News-Star
Aggression is increasing at work: intimidation, harassment, discrimination and the more commonly identified workplace violence and shootings. But now there appears to be a new kid on the block -- workplace bullying.
Rochester Retailer Settles Suit
Source: Madeleine Baran, MPR
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reached a $35,000 settlement with Hobby Lobby, an Oklahoma-based retail chain, in response to allegations that the employer discriminated against a disabled worker at its Rochester store.
October 26, 2009
Workplace Health May Be Declining
Source: Sarah Klein, CNN Health
Amid the highest unemployment rate in recent decades and massive job losses around the country, most workers feel happy to at least be employed. What they aren't feeling, however, is healthy.
Source: Janet Adamy, Wall Street Journal
Business groups won a big victory last week when a key Senate committee voted to place only modest penalties on employers that don't offer health-insurance coverage. But employers are almost certain to face stiffer penalties in the final Senate health-care overhaul bill.
$200000 Settlement Is No Surprise
Source: Matthew Hansen, Omaha World-Herald
Former Papillion Mayor James Blinn and the ex-employee who accused him of sexual harassment have sparked dinnertime debate at the home of Ray and Tonia Aranza, just as they've prompted countless kitchen table conversations in recent weeks.
October 23, 2009
Signs of Recovery Don't Extend to Jobs
Source: Connor Dougherty, Wall Street Journal
U.S. states and regions continue to see their economies slowly improve, but employers across the country remain skittish about hiring, according to two government reports released Wednesday.
Source: Joe Nocera, New York Times
Guaranteed bonuses? Gone. Retention bonuses? Eliminated. Pay tied to performance? In. "The strategic construct is that their compensation should be tied to the performance of the company," the pay czar, Kenneth R. Feinberg, said in an interview Thursday.
Some Ex-workers Object to Kodak Offer
Source: Ben Dobbin, Indianapolis Star
A group of former Eastman Kodak Co. workers objected Friday to a proposed $21.4 million deal to settle two lawsuits by black employees who maintain they were paid and promoted less than white counterparts.
October 22, 2009
NLRB Nominee Gets Mixed News From Senators
Source: Melanie Trottman and Kris Maher, Wall Street Journal - Blogs
Union lawyer Craig Becker received a mixed bag of news today in his quest to take a seat on the National Labor Relations Board. The Senate Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee voted to approve Becker's nomination, but Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain immediately slapped on a "hold," blocking a confirmation vote by the full Senate.
Union Ranks Dwindle; Pro-labor Laws Looming
Source: Linda Bryant, Nashville Business Journal
The erosion of manufacturing jobs in Tennessee -- more than 20,000 since the recession hit -- has also diminished the ranks of organized labor in Middle Tennessee.
Texas Company Unfair to Black Workers
Source: Danny Robins, Associated Press
The 107-year-old company for years discriminated against its black employees, assigning them to the worst jobs and repeatedly denying them promotions.
October 21, 2009
Public Option Gets New Life in Senate
Source: Greg Hitt and Janet Adamy, Wall Street Journal
The idea of creating a government-run health-insurance plan, once on life support in the Senate, is making a recovery among Democrats writing health-care legislation.
Source: Guest Columnist, The Start-Ledger
Danielle entered the room crying. Usually she was an upbeat person, with a positive attitude, a high energy level and a big, engaging personality. A striking woman with auburn hair in a stylish bob, Danielle appears to be in her mid- to late 40s. The truth is she is closer to 60.
Source: Jonathan Stempel, Reuters
Three U.S. states said on Tuesday they plan to sue FedEx Corp (FDX.N), accusing the second-largest U.S. package delivery company of violating labor laws by illegally classifying drivers as independent contractors rather than employees to save money.
October 20, 2009
Higher Jobless Rates Could be Here to Stay
Source: Tom Raum, USA Today
Even with an economic revival, many U.S. jobs lost during the recession may be gone forever and a weak employment market could linger for years.
Employees Face 'Shockingly' Higher Health Costs
Source: Parija B. Kavilanz, CNN Money
It's open enrollment time at work. Prepare yourself. Starting in 2010, your employer is making sure that when it comes to paying for your health care, you're going to be sharing much more of the burden
Source: Courtney Potts, The Observer-Dispatch
A federal court jury awarded $580,000 in damages to a Rome woman Monday after determining that she was subjected to a hostile work environment and unfair termination as an employee of the Central New York Psychiatric Center.
October 19, 2009
A Lifeline Not Made in the USA
Source: Micheline Maynard, New York Times
Millions of Americans work for foreign companies operating in the United States, but their stories are rarely told. As the country pulls out of a devastating recession, foreign employers could help revive the economy.
Slump Allows New Compact With Workers
Source: Phred Dvorak and Scott Thurm, Wall Street Journal
Two-thirds of big companies that cut health-care benefits don't plan to restore them to pre-recession levels, they recently told consulting firm Watson Wyatt. When the firm asked companies that have trimmed retirement benefits when they expect to restore them, fewer than half said they would do so within a year, and 8% said they didn't expect to ever.
Sexual Harassment Prompted Payment
Source: Omaha News, Omaha News
A $200,000 settlement that has caused controversy in Papillion was the result of an allegation of sexual harassment, said Attorney General Jon Bruning, who called the facts of the case "unremarkable."
October 16, 2009
Job Program Missed States That Need It Most
Source: Michael Cooper & Ron Nixon, New York Times
Businesses with federal stimulus contracts have created few jobs in states with the worst unemployment rates, according to data released Thursday by the federal government.
Source: Dennis Cauchon & Paul Overberg, USA Today
A bad economy and low inflation are starting to drag down wages for millions of everyday workers and freeze benefits for millions of retirees.
Private Prison Reaches $1.3M Settlement
Source: Associated Press, Associated Press
The operators of a Colorado private prison have agreed to pay $1.3 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that male officers forced female workers to perform sex acts to keep their jobs.
October 15, 2009
Some Unions Turn Against Health Bill
Source: John Fritze, USA Today
Unions had largely supported President Obama's effort to revamp the nation's $2.6 trillion health care system, but 27 labor groups have launched a campaign against key provisions in the bill passed this week by the Senate Finance Committee.
Deciding Whether a Roth Is Right
Source: Deborah L. Jacobs, New York Times
STARTING in 2010, anyone can convert a traditional Individual Retirement Account to a Roth I.R.A.
That's great news, especially if you want to leave retirement assets to family or friends, a Roth conversion is one of the simplest, best planning tools available.
Michigan Layoffs: Workers Allege Discrimination
Source: Deb Price, Detroit News
A stubbornly long recession is hitting thousands with layoffs, but many older workers see a different reason behind decisions about who should be let go: age discrimination.
October 14, 2009
Stimulus: Creating Jobs or Not?
Source: Tami Luhby, CNN Money
White House and states say thousands of people have jobs because of stimulus, but Republicans say more needs to be done.
Source: Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money
Lawmakers wait with bated breath to hear how the Congressional Budget Office will assess the cost of a bill. But such rulings are not gospel.
Wal-Mart to Pay Settlement to Workers
Source: Associated Press, Miami Herald
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay $11 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of 97,000 current and former workers in Iowa over allegations that they were forced to skip breaks or work off the clock.
October 13, 2009
Big Changes Coming to the Workplace
Source: Martha Lynn Carver, Kiplinger Business Resource Center
The Obama administration is cranking out a slew of regulations affecting businesses. Most of the changes will boost labor protections against workplace hazards, discrimination, unfair pay policies and in other personnel disputes.
Congress Split on Taxing Costly Health Plans
Source: David M. Herszenhorn & David Pear, New York Times
A proposed tax on high-cost, or "Cadillac," health insurance plans has touched off a fierce clash between the Senate and the House as they wrestle over how to pay for legislation that would provide health benefits to millions of uninsured Americans.
Builder to Pay Workers Overtime
Source: Patrick J. McDonnell, LA Times
Pablo Nuez, a carpenter by trade, says he is accustomed to working 10-hour shifts, sometimes six days a week, on home-building sites throughout Southern California. But legally mandated overtime pay was almost as unheard of at job sites, he says, as visits from labor inspectors.
October 12, 2009
Hard Times Are Gateway to New Careers
Source: Rick Hampson, USA Today
For millions of Americans, the recession has been a curse. For a relative few, it's something more complicated: A catalyst for change. An opportunity to grow. A kick in the butt.
Source: Phyllis Korkki, New York Times
So how do you persuade a company to hire you if you are underqualified -- or overqualified -- for the job, and the laws of supply and demand are against you?
Health Reform You Can Count On
Source: Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money
If a bill passes: Insurers are likely to face new rules about who they have to cover and limits on how much they can charge. Consumers will be able to buy coverage on a new "insurance supermarket." And coverage will be expanded and made more affordable for many.
October 9, 2009
Extension of Unemployment Benefits
Source: Associated Press, USA Today
Senate Democrats said Thursday they have reached a deal to extend unemployment insurance benefits to the nearly 2 million jobless workers across the country who are in danger of running out of assistance by the end of the year.
6 Warnings About Retirement Saving
Source: Motley Fool Staff, Motley Fool
It's easier than ever to save for retirement -- and that's a good thing, given the somewhat iffy prospects for Social Security over the long term. Unfortunately, it's still all too easy to blow your chance at a comfortable retirement. But if any of these mistakes sound uncomfortably familiar, take heart.
Source: Julie Forester, Pioneer Press
U.S. legal counsel reinforces the concept that even in an economic downturn, civil protections remain intact.
October 8, 2009
Take This Jobless Recovery And Shove It!
Source: Paul R. La Monica, CNN Money
Economists argue that job growth always lags following a recession. But this time may be different. It's hard to have a recovery with unemployment near 10%.
Delayed Action Over Healthy San Francisco
Source: Bob Egelko
The president has made health care reform a top domestic priority, yet his administration has been noticeably quiet during the legal fight over San Francisco's program - one touted by some experts as a potential model for the nation.
Contractor Rape Victim Fights for Day in Court
Source: John R. Parkinson, ABC News
Today, the Senate listened to her story before approving an amendment by a vote of 68-30 that would prohibit "the Defense Department from contracting with companies that require employees to resolve sexual assault allegations and other claims through arbitration."
October 7, 2009
401(k) Investors: Doing Better Now
Source: Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money
The financial crisis pounded investors, and a new report details just how badly. But 401(k) participants have since prevailed over the most punishing market in decades.
Republicans Put Heat on Acorn Ally
Source: Steven Greenhouse, New York Times
After embarrassing videos led Congress to cut off all financing to Acorn, the liberal community group, various Republicans are turning up the heat on one of Acorn's closest allies, the powerful Service Employees International Union.
City of South Gate Settles Suits
Source: Victoria Kim, LA Times
A group of 16 officers alleged that they faced racial discrimination and harassment after the ouster of a Latino police official in 2002.
October 6, 2009
Surprise: Services Sector Expanded
Source: Tali Arbel, USA Today
The services sector of the economy grew in September for the first time in 13 months, an encouraging sign for the fledgling recovery, although jobs remain scarce.
Source: Associated Press, MSNBC
Even with 15 million people hunting for work, even with the unemployment rate nearing 10 percent, some employers can't find enough qualified people for good-paying career jobs.
Court Reinstates Wal-Mart Damages
Source: Erin Ailworth, Boston Globe
The state Supreme Judicial Court yesterday restored $1 million in punitive damages awarded to a former pharmacist at a Wal-Mart in Pittsfield, who said she was fired after complaining about being paid less than her male colleagues.
October 5, 2009
Source: Sudeep Reddy, Wall Street Journal
The U.S. has shed 7.2 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007. How long will it take for the economy to replace them? And where will the jobs come from?
Recession Takes Bigger Toll on Singles
Source: Paul Davidson, USA Today
Singles have been hit harder in this recession than married folks, losing jobs at more than a 50% higher rate.
Age Discrimination Bill to be Overturned?
Source: Kristina Peterson, Wall Street Journal
Three Democratic lawmakers plan to introduce legislation next week overturning a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to make it easier for older workers to show they have been victims of age discrimination.
October 2, 2009
Unemployment Rate Rises to 9.8%
Source: Jack Healy, New York Times
The American economy lost 263,000 jobs in September -- far more than expected -- and the unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent, the government reported on Friday, dimming prospects of any meaningful job growth by the end of the year.
Survey: Workers Less Fearful Of Layoffs
Source: Kathleen Madigan, Wall Street Journal
As job losses continue to ease, employees are growing less concerned about future layoffs and more confident about finding new work in the coming months, according to a survey released Thursday.
47% Will Pay No Federal Income Tax
Source: Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money
An increasing number of households end up owing nothing in major federal taxes, but the situation may not be sustainable over the long run.
October 1, 2009
Poll: Public Voice Not Heard In Health Debate
Source: Julie Rovner, NPR
Perhaps no other issue Congress deals with touches every American as intimately as health care. Yet a new poll by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health finds that, so far, the public feels profoundly shut out of the current health overhaul debate.
Making Sense of Debate on Health Care
Source: Anna Matthews, Wall Street Journal
The number of Americans with health insurance would expand by requiring nearly everyone to have coverage and helping lower-income people purchase plans. All three would force insurers to sell to people even if they have health problems. And they would grandfather existing insurance so people can keep their current plans.
Verizon To Pay For Sexual Harassment
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal, Philadelphia Business Journal
"Even though management officials knew about the retaliatory harassment, they did not investigate or take action to stop it. Instead, the company fired Allen in retaliation for her complaints," the EEOC said.
September 30, 2009
On Strike! Labor Gets Tough in Recession
Source: Aaron Smith, CNN Money
When faced with factory closures, workers fight back with mixed results.
Recession Alters Job Descriptions
Source: Associated Press, Pittsburgh Tribune
The Great Recession has reshaped the American workplace and work force in ways that will last years, if not longer.
Sears to Pay for Disability Bias
Source: EEOC, EEOC
Sears Holdings Corp agreed to pay a record $6.2 million to settle a lawsuit by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission because the department store retailer illegally fired disabled workers.
September 29, 2009
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act: A Preliminary Report
Source: Joanna L. Grossman & Deborah L. Brake, FindLaw.com
Last January, Congress enacted, and President Obama signed, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The Act makes it easier for employees who have experienced pay discrimination to seek redress.
Workers to Pay 10% More for Health Care
Source: Bruse Jaspen, Chicago Tribune
The cost of medical benefits is projected to jump again next year with premiums and out-of-pocket expenses rising 10 percent, and that likely will mean more pain for workers, who have seen their share of the tab triple since 2001.
Harassment Suit Against Hilton Hotel
Source: EEOC, EEOC
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit Friday against Fireside West, LLC, doing business as the Hilton in Lisle/Naperville, Ill., charging that the hotel violated Title VII by subjecting its Hispanic employees to a hostile work environment.
September 28, 2009
Job Seekers Outnumber Openings
Source: Peter S. Goodman, New York Times
Job seekers now outnumber openings six to one, the worst ratio since the government began tracking open positions in 2000.
Health Reform You Can Count On
Source: Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money
Drowning out the noise of the debate, here are 3 things that stand a good chance of passing if lawmakers wrap up reform this year.
Did Bankers' Pay Add to This Mess?
Source: Mark Hulbert, New York Times
Proposals to cap the compensation of bank C.E.O.'s have gained traction lately as a means of heading off another financial crisis.
September 25, 2009
Recession's Reshape of Workplace & Work Force
Source: Christopher Leonard and Jay Reeves, LA Times
The work force is graying as college graduates can't find jobs, young workers get laid off and older workers delay retirement. People in white-collar jobs are feeling increasingly vulnerable to economic downturns, an insecurity that blue-collar workers have known for years.
Source: Lori Gordon Logan and David Faber, MSNBC
If the Employee Free Choice Act were to become law -- which is far from certain -- it could, over time, upend the low-cost, low-price model that Wal-Mart is built on.
Transgender Woman Wants Reforms Passed
Source: Devin Dwyer, ABC News
When Vandy Beth Glenn, formerly Glenn Morrison, was summoned to her boss's office, she was not prepared for the exchange that followed.
September 24, 2009
Source: Allen Schoer, Huffington Post
Why do so many bosses think everyone's happy just to have a job, when more than half of the country's workers are dissatisfied and nearly 20 percent are plotting to take their skills somewhere else?
Will the Senate Extend Jobless Benefits?
Source: Tami Luhby, CNNMoney
More than a million people could receive an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits under a bill approved by the House on Tuesday.
Discrimination Against Mental Illness
Source: Tresa Baldas, Law.com
The federal government is suing a North Carolina employer for what it calls a pervasive problem in the workplace: discrimination against employees with mental illness.
September 23, 2009
Source: Steven Greenhouse, New York Times
As one of his first acts as the new president of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., Richard L. Trumka led a rally on Wall Street on Tuesday to protest the "apostles of greed" and to back President Obama's push for increased financial regulation.
Source: Nick Bunkley, New York Times
General Motors said on Tuesday that it would call 2,400 hourly workers back to three factories in Michigan, Indiana and Kansas so that it could meet higher demand for some vehicles, but most of the workers will have to move from other states.
Female Latino Farmworkers Were Harassed
Source: EEOc, EEOC
A major farm growers' cooperative with processing plants in three states violated federal law by subjecting a class of female employees to pervasive harassment based on sex and national origin and firing one employee in retaliation for complaining about it, the U.S. EEOC announces charges of a lawsuit today.
September 22, 2009
Source: Michael E. Kanell, Atlanta Journal Constitution
"Typically staffing is the first to be let go and now, you will see an uptick in staffing before the rest of the market"
Source: Anne Belser, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Organized labor isn't totally in favor of globalization, but they also see that once the ship has sailed, it's important to be on board if you want a say in the destination.
Dealing With Sexual Harassment
Source: Sharon Ito, News10 - ABC
Employment attorney, Janine Yancey, discusses harassment on the job, in particular, sexual harassment, and how to make sure your managers take your complaints seriously.
September 21, 2009
Are We Ready for Health Care Reform?
Source: Brian Bandell, South Florida Business Journal
The bills proposed could give patients who were uninsured, and more likely to put off preventive care, access to insurance so they can see family physicians. However, it is not clear whether there will be enough workers on the primary care side of health care to accommodate all those new patients.
Bad Credit Is Making It Tougher to Get Hired
Source: Pamela Yip, The Dallas Morning News
"I get the sense that employers are becoming a little bit more picky about whom they're hiring because they're recognizing that it's an employer's market right now, so they can hold out for a more perfect fit," he said. "One of the ways you can be a more perfect fit is to have a clean credit history."
Teen's Hijab Didn't Fit Abercrombie 'Look'.
Source: Sarah Netter & Lindsay Goldwert, ABC News
This week the EEOCn filed suit in Oklahoma federal court on behalf of Samantha Elauf, 17, whose hijab became an issue during a June 2008 interview for a position at Abercrombie Kids at the Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa, Okla.
September 18, 2009
Workers Say Recession is Still On
Source: Jessica Dickler, CNN Money
The majority of those still employed now put in longer hours for less pay, quelling motivation in the workplace.
Source: Mark Trumbull, Christian Science Monitor
Average balances are now above what they were in early 2008, in the throes of the financial crisis, for most classes of account holders. But retirement income remains at risk for many.
NPMG Gets No Credit for Race Harassment
Source: EEOC, EEOC
NPMG Acquisition Sub, LLC, a Phoenix credit card processing company, will pay $415,000 and furnish significant remedial relief to settle a race harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC had charged that NPMG subjected a group of African American workers to racial slurs and epithets.
September 17, 2009
Specter Unveils Revised EFCA Bill
Source: Alec MacGillis, Washington Post
Sen. Arlen Specter, long the most closely-watched man in America when it comes to labor law reform, today embraced his latest role: as a passionate Democrat declaring that a rejiggered Employee Free Choice Act will pass this year.
Bernanke Says Recession is Technically Over
Source: Mark Trumbull, Christian Science Monitor
But the Federal Reserve head, Ben Bernanke, also warns that the economy will still feel weak, in terms of jobs and wages, for some time.
Judge Tosses Flushing Hospital Nurse's $15M Sex-Harass Award, Cites Crumbling Finances of Hospital
Source: Thomas Zambito, New York Daily News
A Queens judge tossed out a record $15 million jury award won by a Flushing Hospital nurse who said she endured years of sexual harassment by a top-ranking doctor.
September 16, 2009
Wages Grow for Those With Jobs, New Figures Show
Source: David Leonhardt, New York Times
For the first time since perhaps the Great Depression, it seemed possible that average hourly pay would actually begin falling, even before inflation was taken into account. But that's not what has happened.
Obama, Appealing to a Core Ally, Rallies Labor to His Policies
Source: Jeff Zeleny, New York Times
President Obama did not deliver a robust sales pitch on the details of his health care agenda here Tuesday at a convention of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., but rather asked labor leaders to stand with him in resisting opponents of the White House and focus on lifting the economy.
CA Labor Commissioner Files $17.5 Million Lawsuit Against FLM Law Center
Source: Reuters, Reuters
California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet today filed lawsuit against Federal Loan Modification Law Center, LLP ("FLM Law Center") and related entities and individuals for their failure to pay workers all wages due for hours worked.
September 15, 2009
Inspiration for Movie 'Norma Rae' Dies at 68
Source: Emery P. Dalesio, Associated Press
Crystal Lee Sutton, whose fight to unionize Southern textile plants with low pay and poor conditions was dramatized in the film "Norma Rae," has died. She was 68.
AFL-CIO Gets Serious About Wooing Young Members
Source: Sam Hananel
The face of organized labor is getting older and grayer, but the AFL-CIO's new leaders said Monday they intend to change that trend and spark a resurgence in union membership.
Company Sued For Employees' Drug Tests
Source: WSMV, WSMV
An automotive plant in Lawrenceburg is being sued by the U.S. Equal Employee Opportunity Commission for drug tests it conducted on some of its employees.
September 14, 2009
Source: Stephanie AuWerter, CBS News
Chances are, your workplace has downsized during the current recession. Those left standing have a larger work load and more responsibilities. Is now the time for a promotion?
US Begins Crackdown on CEO Pay. Will It Work?
Source: David R. Francis, Christian Science Monitor
In 1965, CEOs of major US firms made 24 times an average worker's pay. By 2004, that ratio was 431 times.
Allstate To Pay $4.5 Million To Settle Age Bias Suit
Source: EEOC, EEOC
EEOC resolves class case against insurance giant over rehiring policy which adversely impacted older workers during company-wide reorganization.
September 11, 2009
Young Adults a Key to Health Care Reform
Source: Childs Walker, Stephanie Desmon and Paul West, Baltimore Sun
While young adults supported Obama in huge numbers during last year's election, they have been relatively quiet about his quest for health reform despite the stakes involved. Polls show that young adults are ambivalent about the need for reform and are generally paying less attention than their parents and grandparents.
White House Reports Stimulus Saved One Million Jobs
Source: Louise Radnofsky, Wall Street Journal
The White House Council of Economic Advisers said Thursday the $787 billion stimulus plan kept one million people working.
Court: Employer Must Pay for Weight-loss Surgery
Source: Charles Wilson, Associated Press
An Indiana court has ruled that a pizza shop must pay for a 340-pound employee's surgery to ensure the success of another operation for a back injury he suffered at work -- raising concern among businesses bracing for more such claims.
September 10, 2009
In Improving Unemployment Picture, Temp Job Losses Slow
Source: Paul Wisemen, USA Today
Gabriel Torok, CEO of PreEmptive Solutions in Cleveland, was caught in a bind. Business seemed to be picking up, but he was "still a little uneasy" about whether the recovery was real.
Fed Officials See Slow Recovery for Labor Market
Source: Ros Kransey, Reuters
U.S. labor markets could take years to recover from the setbacks of the current recession, which have pushed the unemployment rate to a 26-year high, top Federal Reserve policy-makers said on Wednesday.
Salon Ordered to Pay Fired Worker in Sex-Bias Case
Source: Derrick Nunnally, The Philadelphia Inquirer
A Bala Cynwyd hair salon was ordered yesterday to pay nearly $200,000 to a former employee in a discrimination case.
September 9, 2009
Wage-and-Hour Complaints Head for a Company Near You
Source: Tresa Baldas, National Law Journal
Employers, already battling a rash of private lawsuits, are bracing for yet more scrutiny over their pay practices in light of a new report that shows wage-and-hour violations are running rampant in the workplace.
Hiring to Remain 'Stable' yet 'Sluggish'
Source: Julianne Pepitone, CNN Money
US staffing levels are predicted to decline slightly in the fourth quarter, but other countries' labor markets may rebound earlier.
Retailer Fined in Autistic Discrimination Case
Source: Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks Herald
The state has fined Abercrombie & Fitch about $115,000 for discriminating against an autistic customer at the retailer's Mall of America store.
September 8, 2009
Source: Sarah E. Needleman, Wall Street Journal
For employers, Twitter offers one more way to find and attract candidates, and a cheaper alternative to big online job boards. It also helps companies target social-media-savvy job hunters and convey an innovative image. For job seekers, Twitter offers the chance to interact one-on-one with companies' recruiters and can be more convenient than job boards.
Obama Rallies Supporters on Health Care
Source: Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times
President Obama delivered a rousing campaign-style pitch on Monday for his proposed health care overhaul, telling thousands of cheering union workers at a Labor Day picnic here that Congress should stop debating because "it's time to act and get this done."
NLRB Chairman Calls for Updated Labor Laws
Source: Beth Quimby, Maine Business
The nation's labor laws no longer effectively protect the rights of employees and employers but it is up to Congress to bring about changes, National Labor Relations Board chairman Wilma Liebman told a crowd gathered for a Labor Day breakfast Monday.
September 4, 2009
Deducting Job Hunting Expenses
Source: Bill Bischoff, Wall Street Journal
Finding a job can be time-consuming and frustratingly difficult in this economy. On top of that, it can get pretty expensive. If it's any consolation, some of the costs you incur while searching for a job may be tax deductible.
Low-Wage Workers Suffer Financial Discrimination
Source: Linda Wertheimer, NPR
New research suggests more than 90% of low-wage workers are denied worker's compensation for injuries, and almost 70% are cheated out of substantial sums of their paychecks. Annette Bernhardt, Policy Co-Director of the National Employment Law Project and co-author of the study, explains the findings and what can be done to protect low-wage workers.
Report: Meatpacking Plants Wrongly Fired Muslims
Source: Nicole Neroulias, USA Today
A meatpacking company was wrong to fire more than 200 Muslim employees who walked off the job to protest insufficient breaks during Ramadan last year.
September 3, 2009
Job Seekers in Need of Computers Flock to Libraries
Source: Ron Barnett, USA Today
Libraries across the USA are filling up with people waiting to get online to fill out applications, write résumés or look for job openings, a national study by the American Library Association shows.
Source: Editorial, New York Times
An important new study has cast an appalling light on a place where workplace laws fail to protect workers, where wages and tips are routinely stolen, where having to work sick, injured or off the clock is the price of having a job.
Mars Super Markets To Pay $275,000 And Offer Jobs To Women To Settle EEOC Sex Discrimination Lawsuit
Source: Press Release, The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Mars Super Markets, Inc., a Baltimore-based supermarket chain, will pay $275,000 and furnish significant remedial relief to settle a class sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.
September 2, 2009
How to Leverage Social Networking into a New Job
Source: Eve Nicholas, HeraldNet
My regular readers know how I feel about networking. Hands down, it's the best way to land a new position. The more people you meet, the greater your chances of having your name mentioned to a hiring manager. These referrals frequently lead to casual discussions, formal interviews and lucrative job offers.
Labor Draws a Line in the Sand On Public Option
Source: Stephanie Condon, CBS News
Labor leaders drew a line in the sand today, saying a health care reform bill must include three specific elements -- including a government-sponsored health insurance plan, or "public option" -- in order to win their support.
Ex-Courtyard Sales Chief Wins Age Bias Suit, Boss Told to ''Fire the Old Lady''
Source: Barbara De Lollis, USA Today
A former Marriott Courtyard hotel sales director who was 67 years old when the hotel fired her won an age-discrimination suit and more than $420,000.
September 1, 2009
Labor Day and the American Dream
Source: William McGurn, Wall Street Journal
College isn't for everyone.
What Happened to the 'Depression'?
Source: Allan H. Metzer, Wall Street Journal
Despite the rhetoric from Washington, we were never close to 25% unemployment.
Source: David Migoya , Denver Post
Muslims were discriminated against by the meatpacker, the federal panel determines.
August 31, 2009
Could Netflix Inspire More Workplace Freedom?
Source: Jason Foster, Herald Online
Imagine a job that offers the highest salary possible in your field, unlimited vacation time and no dress code.
Union Leader Dings Obama For Promoting 'Pay-for-Performance'
Source: Joe Davidson, Washington Post
John Gage was reelected president of the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union, at its convention here this week.
Appeals Court Allows Gender Stereotype Case
Source: Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
An effeminate, gay man, who claimed he was discriminated against because he didn't conform to a typical male stereotype at his Butler County workplace, will get to argue his case to a federal jury.
August 28, 2009
Can Poor Spelling Derail a Career?
Source: Toddi Gunter, Wall Street Journal
In this world of online communications, hastily written texts and emails filled with spelling and grammatical mistakes are easily accepted in an individual's personal world. But they are still unacceptable in the business world.
Vital Signs: Labor Market Starts to Look Better
Source: James C. Cooper, Business Week
On deck: ISM indexes, pending home sales, ADP job data, productivity revision, FOMC minutes, and the employment report .
Court allows former Boeing employees to sue
Source: Howard Fischer, Arizona Business Gazette
A federal appeals court has given the go-ahead for two former employees of Boeing Co.'s Mesa plant to sue the company for discrimination.
August 27, 2009
Sen. Kennedy's Death Means Unions Lose a Key Ally
Source: David Shepardson, Detroit News
He was a staunch supporter of efforts like the Employee Free Choice act to make it easier for unions to organize, but wasn't afraid to take on automakers.
Tapping Talent Through Internship Programs
Source: Victoria E. Knight, Wall Street Journal
Small-business owners are discovering an upside to the economic downturn: a deeper pool of talent to tap through internship programs.
August 26, 2009
Slowly but Surely, Economy Shows Signs of Recovery
Source: Paul Wiseman, Stephanie Armour and Paul Davidson, USA Today
Real estate agent Dave Gervase recently witnessed an astonishing spectacle: a bidding war for a house in South Florida.
Lowe's to Pay $1.7M in Longview Harassment Settlement
Source: Puget Sound Business Journal, Puget Sound Business Journal
Three former Lowe's Companies Inc. employees at the hardware chain's Longview, Wash., location have been awarded a total of $1.72 million, which is the largest settlement per employee in a sexual harassment case in the western U.S., according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
August 25, 2009
How Social Media Can Hurt Your Career
Source: CNN, CNN
As social media becomes the latest branding strategy, networking technique, job seeking tool and recruitment vehicle, it's also becoming the latest way for people to get job offers rescinded, reprimanded at work and even fired.
Source: JUSTIN HYDE and TODD SPANGLER, Detroit Free Press
Antilabor forces say it's welfare for the UAW and Democrat's union allies. Labor supporters say it falls short of what's needed as tens of thousands of union members are pushed into early retirement as employers cut back health care coverage.
August 24, 2009
To friend, or not to friend: That is the workplace question
Source: Benny Evangelista, SeattlePI
A couple of new surveys released last week illustrate how the rise of social networks like Facebook are affecting the way we relate to co-workers or job candidates.
You're Hired! You Move. You're Fired!
Source: Anne Fisher, CNN Money
It's happening a lot lately: You accept a job offer, maybe even move to a new city to do so, but then the employer backs out. Do you have any rights?
August 21, 2009
Rise of the Super-Rich Hits a Sobering Wall
Source: DAVID LEONHARDT and GERALDINE FABRIKANT, New York Times
The rich have been getting richer for so long that the trend has come to seem almost permanent.
What Great Bosses Know about Their Youngest Employees' Mindset
Source: Jill Geisler, Poynter
I encourage managers to read the whole list, but not for simple amusement or to make themselves feel old.
August 20, 2009
PetSmart Will Pay $125,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit
Source: Kansas City InfoZine, Kansas City InfoZine
PetSmart, Inc., the nation's leading retailer of services and products for pets, will pay $125,000 and furnish significant equitable relief to resolve a federal sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employ ment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced.
Source: Steve Bryant, NBC New York
Everybody complains about their job, but the complaints tend to be so boring you end up nodding off next to the break room's chicken parm-caked microwave.
August 19, 2009
Source: Jessica Dickler, CNN
As economic conditions improve, more companies are recalling previously laid off workers, with mixed success.
Sprint Age-Bias Case Winds Down
Source: Diane Stafford, Kansas City Star
A six-year-old age discrimination lawsuit against Sprint Nextel Corp., which produced a $57 million settlement, came to an official close Tuesday with a gift to the March of Dimes.
August 13, 2009
Boston Gets It: Paid Sick Days Should be a Basic Workplace Standard
Source: Dan Cantor, The Huffington Post
I'm not saying we should start rooting for the Red Sox, but some people in Boston are starting to talk a lot of sense.
Hate Your Co-Workers? How to Cope
Source: MICHELLE GOODMAN, MSNBC
Should You Try to 'Duck and Cover' When Awful Co-Workers Are Near?
August 12, 2009
Looking for a job? Try LinkedIn or Twitter
Source: Reuters, MSNBC
The LinkedIn Profile is really the resume of the future.
Source: Annie Gowen, Washington Post
Some Terminated Employees Work Hard To Keep Up Appearance of Having a Job
August 11, 2009
Labor secretary says green jobs hiring will pick up
Source: Associated Press, USA Today
Hiring in the alternative energy industry will pick up in the next 12 months, though it will take more time before so-called green-jobs will become a bigger part of the U.S. job market, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said Monday.
Source: DANA MATTIOLI, Wall Street Journal
Widespread layoffs caused by tight school budgets are forcing thousands of teachers out of the classroom, in some cases, permanently.
August 10, 2009
Chronic illness can leave workers worried sick
Source: Associated Press, MSNBC
There are laws and strategies to help keep job in current tight market.
Older workers hang on to jobs longer, often out of necessity
Source: Kevin G. Hall , Daily Herald
Americans have been losing their jobs in droves, yet one group has gained ground in employment during this recession: workers 55 and older.
August 8, 2009
Source: THE executive compensation bill that the House passed just before the August recess was advertised as the first in a series of government safeguards to prevent risky, me-first maneuverings around executive pay in corporate America.GRETCHEN MORGENSON, New York Times
THE executive compensation bill that the House passed just before the August recess was advertised as the first in a series of government safeguards to prevent risky, me-first maneuverings around executive pay in corporate America.
August 7, 2009
Healthy investing: Wellness at work
Source: ANN S. KIM, The Portland Press Herald
Nutritious options in the company cafeteria, walking trails, lunchtime speakers and health assessments of the work force are just some of the ways that employers are trying to promote wellness in the workplace.
August 6, 2009
End Workplace Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation
Source: Editorial, Hudson Valley Press
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced they are co-sponsoring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a piece of legislation that would finally prohibit job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Senators Weigh Postal Service's Future
Source: ANDREA FULLER, New York Times
Senators expressed mounting concern Thursday about the worsening finances of the United States Postal Service, but fretted over proposals to save money by cutting service.
August 5, 2009
Smart bosses breed loyalty in rough economic times
Source: Joyce M. Rosenberg, New Jersey Business News
Many employees of small businesses are grateful to have a job, even as salaries are frozen or cut and they're asked to take on more responsibility.
Checking your bad mood at the office door
Source: Sara Eckel, MSNBC
For women especially, showing flashes of anger can undermine authority.
August 4, 2009
Lost generation? U.S. grads work for free, look abroad
Source: Wendell Marsh, Reuters
Americans fresh out of university are discovering their expensive degrees are not the entry ticket to a job they had hoped in the face of high unemployment.
Obama Tries to Put a Brighter Face on the Economy
Source: SHERYL GAY STOLBERG, New York Times
The White House is making a major push this week to persuade Americans that President Obama's policies are helping bring the nation out of recession. But a four-letter word -- jobs -- may well get in the way.
Court rules employer did not violate workers' privacy
Source: Maura Dolan , Los Angeles Times
The California Supreme Court left worker privacy rights intact but ruled against the plaintiffs because the camera installed by the Pasadena firm was turned on only when workers were not present.
August 3, 2009
Labor Department Awards $10 Million to Retrain Older Workers
Source: Emily Brandon, US News
The U.S. Department of Labor awarded $10 million to organizations that connect older workers to jobs last week.
August 2, 2009
Source: ALEXANDRA LEVIT, Wall Street Journal
For some, this may sound familiar. However, for job seekers and career changers, it's a recipe for disaster, because landing a dream job usually isn't a smooth or expeditious process.
July 31, 2009
Six ways bosses can cut your pay — and what to do about it
Source: Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor
Did you survive the massive layoffs of 2008 and early 2009? Congratulations. Now, watch out for the pay cut.
How To Keep Your Job Without Resorting To Blackmail
Source: Jason Mannino, The Huffington Post
Ninety percent of our eligible workforce remains employed even though we are currently experiencing the worst unemployment rate in 26 years. Stress levels are high during this time of economic uncertainty--and not just for those who are laid off.
Pushed by recession, millions make dramatic job changes
Source: Paul Davidson, USA Today
Millions of Americans are making dramatic career turnabouts in this withering recession as a range of industries -- including those involving cars, finance, real estate and construction -- are shedding hundreds of thousands of jobs, many of which analysts say likely won't return for years, if ever. Meanwhile, fields such as health care, clean energy, computer science and the government are expected to grow robustly in coming years.
July 30, 2009
As work force grays, employers lag behind
Source: Eve Tahmincioglu, MSNBC
Older workers need flexibility, training, but often fail to get it
July 28, 2009
Source: Daniel Stone , Newsweek
Washington is spending $60 billion to create the careers of the future, but not a single green job yet exists. Obama's 'green czar' explains.
Source: ALINA DIZIK, Wall Street Journal
Here's what it took to get back in the workplace.
July 27, 2009
7 Mistakes Bosses Make When Giving Criticism
Source: Alison Green , US News
Giving critical feedback to employees can be difficult, and it's one area that managers most often handle badly. Here are the most common mistakes managers make when delivering less-than-positive feedback.
Cross-train to arrive at recession's finish line
Source: Beth Fitzgerald, NJ Biz
Strategy adds flexibility, but at possible cost of worker burnout
July 25, 2009
No Doubts: Women Are Better Managers
Source: Carol Smith, New York Times
This interview with Carol Smith, senior vice president and chief brand officer for the Elle Group, the media company, was conducted and condensed by Adam Bryant.
July 23, 2009
Jobless Checks for Millions Delayed as States Struggle
Source: JASON DePARLE, New York Times
Years of state and federal neglect have hobbled the nation's unemployment system just as a brutal recession has doubled the number of jobless Americans seeking aid.
July 22, 2009
Showdown on Health Reform: Chamber, Insurers vs. Obama, Labor, Grass-Roots Activists
Source: Art Levine, The Huffington Post
The Chamber of Commerce announced yesterday a new $2 million media campaign targeting the public health option that's central to the health care reform President Obama was promoting in his major news conference Wednesday night.
