During and just after the holidays, employment lawyers
find themselves handling all sorts of office party
mishaps. We help
guide employers as they deal with sexual harassment complaints, party decoration
offenses, and alcohol-related tomfoolery, all of which can result in
significant legal consequences. The result, after years of major
and minor holiday calamaties, is that we can become a little jaded.
We’re not often surprised by what we hear. That changed
when we heard the news about a Utah employee who was hospitalized after winning
the eggnog chugging
contest at his office
party. This was a first for us.
The employee ended up with eggnog-induced pneumonia (as well as a $50
gift certificate to Ruth Chris Steak House). We’re pretty sure
that the employer ended up re-thinking the activities list for future holiday
gatherings.
In other developments:
Discrimination
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The Washington Post explained why an inclusive workplace is better for your business.
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Fast Company covered the enduring wage gap.
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Sony Electronics agreed to pay $85,000 to resolve a disability discrimination suit over the termination of an employee with a prosthetic leg.
Technology
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Coca-Cola killed its voicemail system to simplify the way the company works and to increase productivity.
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SHRM discussed technology used to comply with the Affordable Care Act's reporting requirements.
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HR Cloud offered some insights on selecting HR technology.
Wage and Hour
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The U.S. Department of Labor’s rule on some home health workers was struck down.
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California published a poster and wage notice for employers to use to comply with new laws on paid sick leave.
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Wage & Hour Insights discussed rounding issues that can occur with the use of time tracking technology.
Posted by: Kate Bischoff
