An employer making a job offer to a new employee needs to have in place best practices for avoiding being sued in a noncompete agreement dispute or a trade secret misappropriation claim.
Continue Reading Playbook to Avoid Trade Secret & Noncompete Agreement Violations Involving New Hires
November 2013
Study Finds Evidence of Unlawful Discrimination in Using Social Media to Recruit Employees
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal (reported on 11/21/2013 by Jennifer DeVries) discussed a study showing bias in the hiring process when social media is used to screen job applicants. Because of the potential for unlawful discrimination and losing out on otherwise qualified job applicants, the article and study should be a “must…
Employer Sued for Allegedly Failing to Produce Employee Personnel Records
Oakland University, a southeast Michigan public university, was sued on November 1, 2013 by its former women’s basketball coach Beckie Francis. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and declaratory relief, as well as seeks to compel Oakland University to produce certain employee records concerning Ms. Francis pursuant to Michigan’s Bullard-Plawecki Employee Right to Know Act.
While this…
Target Eliminates use of “Check the Box” in Relation to Job Applications and Criminal Background Checks
Job applications commonly have a question in the form of checking a box to indicate whether an applicant has a criminal record. If the applicant checks “yes,” the applicant is asked to explain the circumstances.
In reality, however, checking the box ends the employment opportunity for the applicant because it is likely that a prospective…
The Cost of Workplace Bullying: Legal Risks and Workplace Disruption
Workplace bullying was front and center this week as the Miami Dolphins organization scrambled to address reports that its starting offensive tackle Jonathan Martin left the team indefinitely because of bullying from teammates.
ESPN reported that this bullying included Mr. Martin’s teammate, Richie Incognito, leaving Martin the following (disturbing) voicemail after Mr. Martin was drafted…
Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Employment Discrimination – Legislative Update
Tomorrow Royal Oak (Michigan) votes on a local ordinance that would prohibit discrimination in housing and employment against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals.
The Royal Oak City Commission passed the ordinance in March, but enough residents signed a petition to keep it from taking effect. If this ordinance is enacted, Royal Oak would join approximately…