According to recent speculation, discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may increase because of a change in the federal law.
The new law expands protection to employees and applicants with mental and psychiatric “disabilities” not previously covered. Furthermore, the EEOC will be more aggressive in enforcing the law. Since more mental conditions are [...]
Continue reading about New ADAAA Rules May Challenge Employers on Psychiatric Disabilities
The other day, I heard about an interesting study by Duke University researchers. It found that doctors often make different recommendations for their patients than they do for themselves.
In a nut shell, when trying to determine a course of treatment for themselves, physicians let their emotions get in the way.
And why wouldn’t they? It is [...]
I’ve just returned from a three week vacation in which I made a concerted effort to disconnect from my office. Amazingly, I was pretty successful at it.
Here I am, the owner of a company that has, for the last 30 years, been in the business of providing employee assistance (EAP), worklife and wellness programs that enable employees and [...]
This month, Jon Vegosen discusses two recent Supreme Court opinions (one regarding the “cat’s paw” theory of discrimination liability and one regarding retaliation), as well as important cases involving employee blogs and computer privacy.
Supreme Court Expands Scope of Liability for Discrimination and Retaliation
The United States Supreme Court issued two employee-friendly decisions on discrimination and retaliation [...]
Sooner or later, every manager gets a terrible feeling in their gut: We have an employee that could ‘snap.’
It’s a legitimate concern for every organization.
Homicide is the second leading cause of workplace deaths and there are nearly 2 million assaults and threats of violence in U.S. workplaces every year.
To add insult to injury, workplace violence [...]
Continue reading about Reducing the Risk of Workplace Violence
This month, Jon Vegosen discusses the implications of the new Illinois Civil Union law for employers, recent cases expanding protection for employees’ discussion of working conditions, and the continuing challenges employers face when seeking to regulate employees’ social media use.
Civil Union Law Affects Employee Benefits
The recently enacted Illinois law legalizing civil unions takes effect on [...]
Continue reading about Employment Law Updates: February 2011
When I was asked to serve on the Workplace Task Force for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention about a month ago, I was honored and a bit pensive.
After all, suicide is not something that people talk that openly about. It’s often seen as something to be ashamed of and very little creates a [...]
Continue reading about National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention – Workplace Task Force
Lately, I’ve been struck by the number of organizational consulting requests coming in as the result of disrespectful and potentially harmful employee behaviors – or, as the esteemed Miss Manners may more charmingly put it, workplace incivility.
We’re hearing a lot more organizations ask questions like:
Can you help us with a manager who yells and is [...]
Continue reading about Dear Miss Manners: What’s With All the Workplace Incivility?
This month, Jon Vegosen discusses recent cases regarding employees’ expectation of privacy when using company computers as well as changes to federal immigration forms and potential upcoming developments relating to the National Labor Relations Act.
E-mails from Company Computers Held Not Privileged
A California appellate court recently decided that an employee’s e-mails sent to her lawyer from [...]
So, what is “mindfulness” and how can it help indivually, much less in business?
According to Dr. Pirtle, (creator of the Skillfully Aware programm I referenced in my last post,) mindfulness is the act of watching the process of our actions. Our actions will always produce patterns and patterns from our past have inertia and constantly [...]
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