We recently prepared a post for our friends at www.jurisbrewdence.com, who write about interesting issues in the craft beer industry (yeah we know, rough life right?). Our post was about a recent decision from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which brought some clarity to the issue of which employees may participate in employee tip pools. As you may recall, we previously discussed employee tip pools, which can be risky and problematic, particularly when deciding which employees will share in the pooled tips.
Continue Reading Court Weighs In On Employee Tip Pools
Are Your Sales Employees Properly Classified as Exempt?
Many employers treat their sales employees as exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime and minimum wage requirements. Regardless of whether they pay them a salary, commissions, or some combination of both, employers often assume that all salespersons are exempt and not entitled to overtime. Depending on the circumstances, this assumption can be problematic and costly.
Continue Reading Are Your Sales Employees Properly Classified as Exempt?
NLRB Upholds Discharge for Deliberate Betrayal, Despite Reliance on Unlawful Policy
The National Labor Relations Board recently issued a somewhat surprising decision that provides useful guidance to employers facing employee misconduct. In Flex Frac Logistics, LLC, the Board found that an employee’s discharge for breaching the employer’s confidentiality policy was lawful, despite the Board’s finding that the confidentiality policy was unlawful.
Continue Reading NLRB Upholds Discharge for Deliberate Betrayal, Despite Reliance on Unlawful Policy
Pennsylvania Supreme Court To Consider When a Public Sector-Related Entity May Subcontract Bargaining Unit Work to Private Sector Contractors Without Bargaining
In a case which will interest public and private sector employers alike, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, District Council 87 v. Pa. Labor Relations Bd., the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is poised to address important issues regarding the subcontracting of public sector bargaining unit work to private sector contractors.
Continue Reading Pennsylvania Supreme Court To Consider When a Public Sector-Related Entity May Subcontract Bargaining Unit Work to Private Sector Contractors Without Bargaining
Appealling An Arbitration Decision – A Success Story Part II
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recently confirmed that sexual harassment is against public policy. Seems like a no brainer, right? The court seemed to agree, stating that the decision in Phila. Housing Authority v. AFSCME, District Council 33, Local 934 [WARNING EXPLICIT] (pdf) was not “a difficult case.” So, why did it take over a decade to reach this conclusion?
Let’s look at what happened.
Continue Reading Appealling An Arbitration Decision – A Success Story Part II
BREAKS FOR BREASTFEEDING PART OF HEALTH CARE REFORM?
Yes, that is right, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) (pdf), signed into law on March 23, 2010, amended the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to require employers to provide reasonable unpaid breaks to nursing mothers. Previously, the FLSA did not require that employers provide breaks, but now employers must provide…
Jon & Kate Plus 8 Reality TV Show faces Child Labor Investigation
The Gosselin Family, which has been the center of a media attention in recent weeks, is reportedly under investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for child labor law violations stemming from their children’s appearance on the reality TV show "Jon & Kate Plus 8". Much of the reality show is…
Obama Executive Order promotes use of Union Contractors
Executive Order 13502 is the first step to funneling a significant portion of the $787 billion in Stimulus Bill money to union workers. Executive Order 13502 promotes the use of Project Labor Agreements in large scale construction projects where the total cost to the federal government exceeds $25 million. Bush Administration Executive Orders prohibiting the use of…
Union Leader Predicts EFCA passage by August 2009
Andy Stern, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), was recently interviewed by USA Today where he predicted the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) by August.
Unions have substantial political clout and this prediction should be respected. According to Department of Labor filings, the SEIU has almost 1.7 million members and…