News & Analysis as of

Employer Liability Issues Wrongful Termination Employment Policies

Verrill

Orabona v. Santander: The Importance of ERISA Status for Severance Plans

Verrill on

Severance plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) must satisfy certain compliance requirements, but federal law affords employers significant advantages in the event a...more

Bennett Jones LLP

When is Recording at Work Grounds for Dismissal? A Case of Nuance and Context

Bennett Jones LLP on

In an age where technology makes recording conversations easy and common, a recent wrongful dismissal case (Wan v H&R Block Canada Inc., 2024 ABKB 734) raises important questions about privacy, workplace ethics and the...more

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

Sixth Circuit Expands FMLA to Include Care for Sibling When Employee Acts in Parental Role

The Family and Medical Leave Act provides unpaid job-protected leave for a qualified employee to care for a spouse, parent, or child with a serious health condition. This means that FMLA protections do not extend to employee...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Modern Families: The Sixth Circuit’s Decision Regarding In Loco Parentis Relationships for Adult Siblings and FMLA Claims

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued a significant decision regarding the interpretation of the mysterious “in loco parentis” relationships under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Chapman v. Brentlinger...more

Tucker Arensberg, P.C.

Can an Employee Be Eligible for Medical Leave Even if FMLA and PTO Leave Isn’t Available?

Tucker Arensberg, P.C. on

When employers think of “medical leave,” most minds understandably jump to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or time off that employees may be entitled to under company-provided policies (sick leave, vacation, PTO, etc.)....more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Fourth Circuit Issues Opinion Regarding Hemp-Derived (Delta-9) Products in Case Involving ADA Claims

On September 4, 2024, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, in Anderson v. Diamondback Investment Group, LLC, ruled on whether a former employee’s use of lawful hemp-derived products containing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol...more

Littler

Ontario, Canada Appeal Court Confirms Employment Contract Frustrated by Employee’s Refusal to Comply With COVID-19 Vaccination...

Littler on

In Croke v. VuPoint System Ltd., 2024 ONCA 354, the Court of Appeal for Ontario (OCA) upheld the Superior Court of Justice – Ontario (SCJ)’s summary judgment decision that an employee’s refusal to comply with their employer’s...more

Ius Laboris

Canadian court upholds termination of unvaccinated worker

Ius Laboris on

The Ontario Court of Appeal recently held that an employee’s failure to meet COVID-19 vaccination requirements imposed by a third party amounted to frustration of the employment contract. As a result, there was no obligation...more

Bodman

Michigan Supreme Court Expands Retaliation Liability Under Michigan’s Civil Rights Act

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The Michigan Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the case of Miller v. Department of Corrections expands the scope of retaliation claims under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA). This decision could have important...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Eleventh Circuit Holds FMLA Retaliation Requires “But-for” Showing

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Seyfarth Synopsis: The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court’s decision that “but-for” is the proper causation standard for FMLA retaliation claims addressed within the...more

Littler

UK: Employee Unfairly Dismissed for Failure to Install App on Personal Phone

Littler on

A recent employment tribunal case, Alsnih v. Al Quds Al-Arabi Publishing & Advertising, ruled that a journalist was unfairly dismissed for refusing to install a work-related app on her personal phone. The app was considered...more

Littler

British Columbia Court Finds Employer Had Just Cause to Dismiss Full-time Employee Who Worked on Side Business During Working...

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In Dove v Destiny Media Technologies Inc., 2023 BCSC 1032 , the Supreme Court of British Columbia found that an employer had just cause for the dismissal of a full-time employee who worked on a side business during working...more

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

Employee's PTSD Diagnosis May Excuse Violation of Disciplinary Policies

The Americans with Disabilities Act does not require employers to ignore or excuse serious violations of their rules of conduct. For example, an employee who brings a weapon to work in violation of the employer’s policy...more

Poyner Spruill LLP

Employer Avoids Liability for Wrongful Discharge Despite Alleged Comparator Receiving Lesser Discipline

Poyner Spruill LLP on

It is often said that consistent application of an employer’s work rules is one of the best ways to avoid liability for discrimination claims.  Doing so can help to rebut the allegation that an individual has been subjected...more

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

[Event] Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar - November 3rd, La Jolla, CA

An event presented by Labor and Employment and Human Resource Professionals - Mark your calendars! You won’t want to miss Procopio’s annual Labor & Employment Seminar in La Jolla on November 3rd. As a dedicated...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Fourth Circuit Reinstates Employee’s Claim That Social Media App Messages Provided Sufficient Notice of a Medical Absence

On August 15, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit held in Roberts v. Gestamp West Virginia, LLC, that an employer’s “usual and customary” notice procedures relating to absences extended beyond the company’s...more

McAfee & Taft

Despite violating numerous workplace behavior policies, flight attendant wins initial day in court

McAfee & Taft on

A recent jury verdict against Southwest Airlines and Transport Workers Union of America, Local 556 is an interesting study in the tension between an employer’s right to police an employee’s statements on social media and the...more

Bodman

Employers Beware! Michigan Supreme Court Clarifies and Expands Public-Policy Exception to At-Will Employment Presumption

Bodman on

On July 15, 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court clarified and, arguably, expanded the public-policy exception to the well-established at-will employment presumption in Michigan. Although the case may conclude differently after...more

Proskauer - Law and the Workplace

Massachusetts Creates Exception to At-Will Employment for Employees Exercising the “Right of Rebuttal”

On December 17, 2021, the highest state court in Massachusetts held that an employer may not terminate an employee solely for exercising his right to file a rebuttal to be included in his personnel file....more

Littler

Ontario, Canada Court of Appeal Decides Employer Was Justified in Terminating Employee for Cause for Sexual Harassment

Littler on

In Hucsko v. A.O. Smith Enterprises Limited, 2021 ONCA 728 (A.O. Smith), a long-term senior employee’s co-worker alleged that the employee sexually harassed her. After a workplace investigation that determined the co-worker’s...more

Littler

Ontario, Canada Court Ends Injunction Staying Termination of Unvaccinated Employees under Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy on...

Littler on

On October 29, 2021, in Blake v. University Health Network, 2021 ONSC 7139 (Blake), the Ontario Superior Court of Justice discontinued an interim injunction that it had issued on October 22, 2021, staying the terminations of...more

Littler

$10 Million “Reverse” Race & Gender Discrimination Verdict Gives DE&I Programs a Halloween Fright

Littler on

For the past several years, companies have been focused on creating and executing meaningful diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) programs to address the multi-faceted challenges—and opportunities—of diversifying their...more

Tucker Arensberg, P.C.

Having a Discrimination and Harassment Policy is Not Enough to Avoid Potential Liability

Tucker Arensberg, P.C. on

I have urged all employers to have good and thorough policies against workplace discrimination or harassment. However, a recent case filed by the EEOC against a hotel chain shows that having such policies is not enough, it is...more

Littler

Pennsylvania Appeals Court Determines State’s Medical Marijuana Act Includes a Private Right of Action for Employees

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In a case of first impression, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania has determined that employees can sue their employers for claims under the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (MMA).  Palmiter v. Commonwealth Health Sys.,...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Pennsylvania Court Holds Medical Marijuana Act Allows Employees to Sue for Discrimination

On August 5, 2021, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania held for the first time that Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act (MMA) allows an employee to sue his or her employer for taking an adverse employment action based on the...more

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