Should HR Silence Complaining Employees?

For the benefit of everyone in the workplace, complaining employees shouldn’t be allowed to spread their discontent unchecked. They will sow seeds of animosity among their peers and will misrepresent their personal... Read more »

Public Employer Can Limit Employee Contact with Witnesses

​Takeaway: A public employer may impose restraints on the job-related speech of its employees that would be unconstitutional if imposed on the public.  ​A public utility did not violate the First Amendment... Read more »

Employee Can Go Forward with Claim of Racial Bias by U.S. Postal Service

​Takeaway: A Black applicant for a promotion who showed that she was arguably more qualified for the position than the white applicant who was selected raised an inference of racial discrimination and... Read more »

Why Do Nonprofit Organizations Fall Short of Their Potential?

​Former employment attorney and author Jathan Janove writes for SHRM Online on how to inject greater humanity into HR compliance. Jathan welcomes your questions and suggestions for future columns. Contact him at the email... Read more »

It’s Time To Go Back to School, but Districts Are Short-Handed

​Summer is nearly over, and students are heading back to school. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for workers in many school districts. Since the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools... Read more »

Bathroom Access Crucial for Workers with Disabilities

​Employees with disabilities sometimes struggle to use bathrooms at the workplace, even if the bathroom meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Common complaints about workplace bathrooms include stalls that are too... Read more »

Don’t Shy Away from Tough Conversations When Firing Someone

​Silence isn’t golden when firing someone, legal experts say, although they add that employers should keep the explanation for the termination brief and consistent, and avoid debate. “A refusal to offer a... Read more »

Take Care with Last Chance Agreements

Last chance agreements provide workers facing discharge with a final opportunity to remain employed. Thus, the agreements need to be used—and worded—carefully. The agreements are common in unionized settings but also are... Read more »

Court Broadens Meaning of Adverse Employment Action

​A new ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will make it easier for employees to file discrimination lawsuits based on scheduling and other employment-related decisions. On Aug. 18, the... Read more »

Texas Governor Signs Preemption Bill, CROWN Act and Other Bills

​The Texas legislature meets only for approximately six months every other year. This session, many bills signed into law will impact employers. This article summarizes some of these new laws and how... Read more »