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Showing 43 posts in Employment.

Part One: What You Need to Know Before Conducting a Workplace Investigation in Michigan

Hands going through filesConducting a workplace investigation is a challenging and risk-filled endeavor for Michigan employers. Done right, an investigation can unearth important information that can help bring an end to deleterious behavior—or affirm that nothing unlawful or improper is or was taking place. In either case, an investigation can restore trust and credibility internally and externally. Done poorly, an investigation erodes trust and can result in legal and financial consequences, loss of employee morale, and reputational damage. Read More ›

Categories: Compliance, Employment, Harassment, Lawsuit, Liability

Part One: Stay on the Right Side of the Law When Conducting Job Candidate Background Checks

Background Checks FormIn the past, background checks on prospective employees were done as a matter of course by employers. The only real risk employers faced was missing a red flag in a candidate’s background, resulting in a poor hiring decision. Read More ›

Categories: Compliance, Criminal, Employee Handbook, Employment

Legal Pitfalls and Best Practices During the Hiring Process

Shaking handsIn today’s tight job market, businesses must recruit aggressively to attract talent. However, without a clear and compliant hiring process in place, and well-trained employees to implement the process, an employer’s hiring practices can open it up to significant liability. Read More ›

Categories: Employment, Labor Relations, Lawsuit, Liability

The End is Here…How to End the Employment Relationship

Man Holding BoxDisciplining, terminating or laying off employees can be a traumatic experience. It is traumatic for the employee because it involves criticism for not performing acceptably and/or causing potential financial burdens because the paycheck has stopped. Read More ›

Categories: Employment, Labor Relations, Lawsuit

Smile, You’re On Camera: Best Practices for Workplace Video Surveillance in Michigan

Preventing theft, avoiding frivolous lawsuits, increasing productivity, and improving workplace safety: these are all important objectives that employers in Michigan hope to achieve through monitoring their workers and work environments often with video surveillance. While video surveillance can be an important asset for an employer, it can also lead to liability if your surveillance program runs afoul of the law. Read More ›

Categories: Cybersecurity, Employee Handbook, Employment, Labor Relations, Privacy, Technology

Conflict at Work: Is it Harassment or is it Bullying?

Employers have known for a long time the legal implications of harassment in the workplace. And, while bullying gets considerable attention in schools, it is only now starting to gain attention in the workplace. But employers must be aware that ignoring bullying in the workplace may also expose them to significant legal liability. Read More ›

Categories: Did you Know?, Employment, Harassment, Lawsuit, Liability

U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Rules Concerning Association Health Plans

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued final regulations that expanded the availability of association health plans ("AHPs"). Read More ›

Categories: Employee Benefits, Employment, Health Insurance Exchange

The Consequences of Misclassifying an Employee as an Independent Contractor

Due to increased scrutiny from state and federal government agencies and high profile cases involving companies such as Uber, UPS and FedEx Ground, businesses are becoming increasingly concerned over proper classification of workers. Read More ›

Categories: Employee Benefits, Employment, Labor Relations, Lawsuit, Liability, Wage and Hour

The Return of the Unpaid Internship

For the past eight years, the U.S. Department of Labor (the "DOL") followed a strict six-part test to determine whether a for-profit employer could use interns without compensating them for the services they provided. Read More ›

Categories: Department of Labor, Employee Handbook, Employment, Fashion, Labor Relations

Laid-off teacher says school district didn’t follow evaluation process — and court agrees

There’s a reason why school districts are required to provide fair, transparent and timely teacher evaluations — and it’s not just to make sure instructors are doing their best. It’s because it’s the law. And, as the Michigan Court of Appeals made clear in a recent published decision, not following through with teacher evaluations is actionable.  Read More ›

Categories: Compliance, Did you Know?, Employment, Lawsuit