Connecticut recently joined five other states that restrict the use of credit report information in employment decisions. These five other states are Maryland, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.
Michigan does not presently have similar legislation in place. But State Representative Jon M. Switalski is the primary sponsor of House Bill 4362 (PDF)
A Flint jury recently awarded $535,000 to a white former employee wrongfully fired after making a racial comment. This verdict also highlights important differences when it comes to reverse discrimination claims under Michigan and federal law.
For background, Mr. Craig Hecht, a former charter school teacher, was fired from Linden Charter for undisputedly telling another employee that
Employers commonly require employees to execute noncompetition agreements (also referred to as covenants not to compete or restrictive covenants). Under Michigan law (MCL 445.774a), such agreements will be enforceable if reasonable.
In theory, an enforceable noncompete agreement generally places certain limitations on an employee’s ability to work for a competitor or to start a competitive
The alleged (mis)handling of an employee’s complaints of wrong-doing by her former employer offers insight on how to avoid a subsequent whistleblower claim or, at least, be in a better position to defend against such claims.
Specifically, a Metro Detroit Employment Law firm was recently sued for violating (ironically) various employment laws. The law firm
Conventional wisdom directs companies to implement social media policy to eliminate or otherwise reduce the risks involved with social media. But a social media policy is only effective if it is followed by a company’s employees. And the sweet spot for increasing compliance with such a policy is by showing individual employees why they have
The Michigan Supreme Court recently approved new rules for civil and criminal jury trials that will give jurors an opportunity to participate in trials.
Under these rules, jurors will be permitted to take notes, discuss the evidence throughout civil trials, and submit questions to the judge to ask witnesses. A PDF copy of the rules
On June 24, 2011, a Florida federal district court dismissed a claim that an employer violated the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) anti-retaliation provision by allegedly firing an employee who expressed her disagreement over the employer’s payment practices on Facebook.
The Plaintiff, Lilli Morse, filed suit against her former employer, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
A recent Michigan Court of Appeals opinion highlights the importance of clearly and precisely drafting separation agreements.
In Sohal v. Mich. State Univ. Bd. of Trs. & Davoren Chick M.D., (May 17, 2011) the parties executed a Resignation Agreement and Release relating to Plaintiff’s agreement to voluntarily resign from MSU’s medical residency
A recent employment termination turned litigation offers important lessons for employers and employees when it comes to preserving computer information maintained on company issued laptops and related equipment.
In Larkin v. Trinity Lighting, Inc. (PDF) (S.D. Miss. Apr. 20, 2011), Larkin was employed by Trinity as a salesperson and provided a company laptop, desktop computer
On May 31, 2011, Crain’s Detroit Business (by Chad Halcom) reported that a prominent Detroit law firm and its Vice-Chairman had settled litigation involving various employment law claims filed by a former executive assistant.
I previously reported on this employment discrimination litigation and also discussed the lessons to be learned from the law firm’s alleged