Many Americans struggle to manage competing responsibilities at work, home, and in the community.  For many, attaining an appropriate work-life balance can seem practically impossible.  For those who have done so, the benefits can be significant.  It is not just employees that benefit from work-life balance.  Employers do too.  What does work-life balance have to... View Post

FEDERAL PROTECTION Thirty-six years ago, Congress passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) which made it unlawful to discriminate based on pregnancy when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, etc.  However, the PDA does not require employers to make accommodations for pregnant employees so they can continue to perform their jobs... View Post

The Idaho Supreme Court recently affirmed the Idaho Industrial Commission’s determination that Michael Vawter, a former delivery driver for United Parcel Service (UPS), was entitled to worker’s compensation benefits when he injured his back while tying his boots at work.  See Vawter v. UPS, Docket No. 40660 (2014). Mr. Vawter worked as a delivery driver... View Post

Labor costs are always a prime consideration in restaurant management.  With restaurants typically operating on slim profit margins, it can be difficult to pay higher wages.  As an alternative, some Idaho restaurant owners have started pooling their employees’ tips.  Tip pooling is an arrangement where tips are collected from all employees and are redistributed with... View Post

February—the month of love—typically includes the exchange of Hallmark cards and chocolates with your special someone on Valentine’s Day. Yet, with Valentine’s Day approaching, many employers dread this celebration of love because Cupid’s arrow may hit their workplace. WHY WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS MAY BRING LIABILITY A relationship between employees in the workplace does not necessarily mean... View Post

Let’s face it – one of the most challenging (and often least enjoyable) responsibilities that a supervisor has is when they have to address an issue with an employee’s work performance.  It becomes a crucial balance for a supervisor to decide what actions or inactions require discipline, but to also ensure that the discipline does... View Post

In the past decade, state anti-bullying and hazing legislation has focused primarily on bullying and hazing in schools. However, bullying does not merely occur between children on the playground. The recent Miami Dolphins scandal illustrates the growing concern over bullying in the workplace and provides lessons for employers to protect themselves from the legal risks... View Post

With 2014 upon us, businesses, like individuals, can benefit from making New Year’s resolutions. The start of the new year is a great opportunity for employers to evaluate last year’s business goals and ensure that the business is ready to take on the new year. Below is a brief checklist to help your company prepare... View Post

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal statute that allows eligible employees to take a leave of absence from work without losing their health insurance coverage in certain circumstances, which includes providing care to a spouse with a serious health condition.  The definition of “spouse” has evolved in the United States to... View Post

The Don Draper days of excessive workplace drinking and smoking are long gone.  In fact, it has become increasingly popular for employers to offer employees incentives to improve their health.  The perk for employees is better health and potential rewards (often financial incentives) from employers.  Employer benefits include a reduction in healthcare costs and an... View Post

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has made genetic discrimination one of its top national priorities.  To date, the EEOC has received more than 700 charges under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).  As a result, the EEOC has started to file actions against companies for violating GINA. WHAT IS GINA? Title II of the... View Post

It is fairly well established and accepted that a part-time employee works less than a 40 hour work week.  But, the “magic number” that makes an employee a part-time employee versus a full-time employee varies significantly! Some employers count employees as full-time if they work 30, 32, or 36 hours a week, while others only... View Post