Archive for July, 2009

Revised Laws, New Laws, More Workplace Regulation: What Should Employers Do?

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Jeffrey A. Risch, SmithAmundsen LLC

Federal and State Laws are constantly changing.  From the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, to recent changes to the Illinois Human Rights Act, to developments in Immigration Law and the use of E-Verify, employers of all sizes are becoming overwhelmed.

Far too often employers are delivered a short summary of new or revised laws without any assistance on how to react to the change.  Employers need to not only identify recent labor and employment law developments, but begin to amend workplace policies, procedures and practices to the extent necessary for compliance purposes — while still preserving the ability to effectively manage.

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DC Circuit Overrules NLRB On Use Of E-mail For Union Activity

Monday, July 27th, 2009

Norma Zeitler, Barnes & Thornburg

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reversed the NLRB Tuesday, finding that the Board misapplied the National Labor Relations Act in ruling that an Oregon newspaper properly disciplined an employee for violating company policy by using the newspaper’s e-mail system for union purposes. While many suggest that a new Board with a Democratic majority might have quickly reversed the Register-Guard decision anyway, the DC Circuit beat the NLRB to the punch.

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