Archive for June, 2010

New OSHA ‘Sheriff’ Packs Heat, But It May Backfire

June 24, 2010 at 9:00 pm by: Jim Stanley

By Jim Stanley, president, FDRsafety
When Labor Secretary Hilda Solis warned business last year that there was ”a new sheriff in town,” she wasn’t kidding — the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is packing big new six-guns. The only problem is that it may be shooting itself in the foot.

Why Wait for the EEOC? Expert Clarifies ADAAA Requirements

June 17, 2010 at 9:00 pm by: Julie Athey

Nearly two years after Congress passed the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced recently that employers should not expect to see new regulations providing a more detailed explanation of the law’s requirements anytime soon.
To understand the reasons for the delay and how it may affect employers, we spoke with nationally [...]

Smoking Pot and Feeding Grizzly Bears — Any Volunteers?

June 10, 2010 at 9:00 pm by: Montana Employment Law Letter

Normally in HR Hero Line, we focus on employment laws and issues that affect most employers. But when a state-specific workers’ comp case comes along that involves (1) a worker smoking pot before (2) his job feeding grizzly bears for (3) a company that says its workers were volunteers, (not employees), we think it’s worth [...]

A More Serious Take on Debrahlee Lorenzana

June 9, 2010 at 9:13 am by: Julie Athey

When I first thought about writing a lighthearted piece on Debrahlee Lorenzana, she was still a little-known would-be sexual harassment litigant. A few days have passed, and she is now well on her way to being a worldwide phenomenon. It seems that every time you turn on the TV, there she is, talking about how [...]

‘Unable to Socialize’ Doesn’t Necessarily Mean ‘Unable to Work’

June 3, 2010 at 9:00 pm by: Connecticut Employment Law Letter

by Jonathan C. Sterling
If an employee whose job involves talking on the phone and using a computer states under oath that he is unable to perform those tasks because of a disability, it’s logical to assume he can’t do his job. However, as a recent federal appellate court decision demonstrates, that may not always be [...]