Archive for April 2020
HR Managers Rethink Their Role During the Coronavirus Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted organizations and caused human resources managers to think differently about their role as they adjust to social distancing practices and a new work environment that they may never have imagined. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, companies have switched to a remote work model at a rate and scale…
Read MoreWhen Evaluating Interns, Aim For a Level Playing Field
Even in a normal year, April is a busy time for recruiters and talent professionals. One of the many items on their lists is preparation for annual summer internship programs. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens such programs in many workplaces, according to Kevin Davis, founder and chairman of First Workings, a Manhattan-based non-profit that connects underrepresented…
Read More“Employees Cannot Mandate an Accommodation”
As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit found, an employee must engage in the reasonable accommodation process and must provide medical documentation that actually supports his reasonable accommodation request. In Tchankpa v. Ascena Retail Group, Inc., an employee with a shoulder injury demanded to work from home. The employer sought medical documentation, which…
Read MoreCoronavirus Brings Cloud of Uncertainty Over Summer Internships
The pandemic brought an abrupt end to many spring internships. Employers are evaluating how the virus will change next season’s programs. When the novel coronavirus arrived in the U.S., it upended work for many. Among those whose jobs disappeared were interns. Walt Disney Co. closed its U.S. theme parks in March, ending the internships of…
Read MoreDOL Outlines Small-Business Exemption From Coronavirus Paid Leave Law
Employers with fewer than 50 employees may claim an exemption from the emergency paid leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), and the exemption applies specifically to leave taken for reasons of child care and school closures related to COVID-19, according to a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) guidance updated March 28.…
Read MoreProtecting Social Media Contact Lists as Trade Secrets
Social media contact lists have become an increasingly important part of a business’s customer lists. While courts are still grappling with who legally “owns” the data that the employee acquired on the employer’s dime—such as LinkedIn customer connections or access to a list of Twitter-feed recipients—employers can still take steps to bolster the company’s claim of…
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