How employers address employees’ use of social media as a forum to engage on political issues entails a range of considerations. Social media’s potential to reach an outsized audience compared to traditional venues for political discourse may increase the negative effects of controversial political speech in the workplace.
Discipline & Discharge
EntertainHR: Helping Haverford – What Parks and Recreation Teaches Us About Employee Terminations
Parks and Recreation is a beloved mockumentary sitcom that focuses on the lives of several employees of the fictional Pawnee, Indiana’s Parks and Recreation Department. One of those characters is the sarcastic and entrepreneurial Tom Haverford, played by Aziz Ansari. Throughout the series, Tom embarks on several business ventures. One
How to Handle an Employee’s Exit: Pre- and Post-Departure Considerations
Employee departures are a natural part of any organization’s lifecycle, yet they can pose significant challenges if not managed properly. Join Jackson Lewis P.C. attorneys for a discussion on comprehensive guidelines and strategies for effectively handling employee departures, ensuring smooth transitions and addressing potential post-departure concerns.
Dealing with “Entitled” Employees
In this episode, Jen reminds employers of their right to say “no.”
Don’t Lie About a Termination!
In this episode, Jen reminds us why you should always tell the truth when you are terminating an employee.
When is it Time to Let Go?
In this episode, Jen highlights how to determine when it’s time to tell an employee goodbye.
Reasons Not to Hide Performance Terminations as Layoffs
All employers have been there. You decide to terminate an employee because of their poor job performance, but there is a problem.
Strategies for Investigating Misconduct Against Superstars, C-Suite Employees in Retail Industry
In the retail industry, when superstars, C-suite employees, and other high-achieving individuals are accused of misconduct, the company has a significant management challenge to address the situation in an unemotional, business-like manner, as well as to consider the optics and ethics of the situation. This article offers strategies on how to investigate and address allegations of misconduct by and against superstars and C-suite employees in the retail industry.
Employment Terminations and Severance Agreements in Business Transactions and Restructurings
To Terminate Or Not Terminate, That Is The Question.
Whether selling, acquiring, or restructuring a business, the complex issue of employment relationships and what to do with them should be considered as early in the process as possible. There are often sound business and legal reasons, affecting all sides of a deal/restructure, for the selling entity to formally terminate employment relationships with its employees prior to the close of a transaction. This is true even where the parties anticipate that the universe of the seller’s employees will seamlessly commence employment with the acquiring entity. On the other hand, there are also competing and equally compelling reasons not to terminate those relationships, making the risks of doing so “not worth it.”
Terminating the employment of a seller’s employees can mitigate risks of exposure to liability for employment-related claims and provide a bright-line date of termination from employment by one entity before employment commences with another entity. This is particularly beneficial if the subsequent employment will likely be with the entity acquiring the business, and the seller’s former employees will continue to work in the same facility post-acquisition, performing the same functions, using the same equipment and reporting to the same management. A formal and clearly documented employment termination protects both the seller and the buyer.
On the other hand, the costs of terminating employment relationships can be significant. At termination, employees must be paid all wages owed, accrued vacation time, and potentially severance pay. These costs may render employment separation unattractive. In addition, there are practical implications of employment separation that can complicate the buyer’s transition and create unwanted delays in setting up operations, payroll, and benefits. A seller may also decide not to terminate its employees in the interest of maintaining confidentiality about the transaction and avoiding uncertainty about retaining the necessary personnel to promote a smooth transition in ownership.
Ja Morant’s Suspension: Key Takeaways For Handling An Employee’s Off Duty Misconduct
On March 20, 2023, following an eight-game suspension, Memphis Grizzlies’ two-time All-Star point guard, Ja Morant, returned to play in a NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets. Grizzlies’ fans welcomed back Morant with cheers and a standing ovation when Morant came off the bench after missing a total of
Why “Template” Separation Agreements Will Get You Sued!
Last month, the National Labor Relations Board issued an important decision (McLaren Macomb, 372 NLRB No. 58 (2023) regarding the inclusion of certain common provisions in severance and separation agreements. You can read the 02/21/23 decision on the NLRB’s site here.
Quiet Quitting and What Employers Can Do About It
“Quiet quitting” is the newest coined phrase that has burst onto the workplace scene. Not to be confused with the “great resignation,” quiet quitting is commonly understood to mean employees intentionally prioritizing the minimum requirements of their job and nothing more.
Employee Arrests Outside of Work Hours: 4 Key Questions and Answers for Employers
When employees are arrested during their off-duty time and away from work, employers may need to make difficult choices balancing their various obligations. Among these are respecting the rights of arrested employees, ensuring the safety of workforces and workplaces, maintaining the continuity of business operations, and preserving brand integrity and
Dear Littler: Our Wandering Workers Have Wandered Off With Our Equipment
Dear Littler: We are a multi-state employer that allowed a large percentage of our employees to work remotely during the pandemic. To help facilitate the transition to home offices, we provided our remote workers with office equipment, cell phones, laptops, monitors—you name it. Some of these employees have now
How to Have a Smooth Separation of Employment—Unlike Tom Brady
On February 1, 2022, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady officially announced his retirement via Instagram. The word “officially” is key here, as news of Brady’s retirement initially leaked to the media a few days before, apparently causing Brady, the second-best quarterback of all time, much consternation. Suffice it