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Showing 12 posts from May 2013.

Private Facebook Message not Concerted Activity Under NLRA

May 24, 2013 by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

In this case, an employer terminated a medical office worker based upon a private Facebook message she sent to nine other current and former employees. The message contained derogatory comments about the employer but focused on one supervisor and another returning supervisor she disliked. The employee also expressed a desire to be terminated. No one copied on the message responded directly to the message content at issue. Another employee who received the message gave it to the employer. The employer terminated the author of the message on the grounds that it was obvious the employee no longer wished to work there and disliked the employer and, given these feelings, the employer was concerned about the employee’s interactions with patients.  More ›

Sixth Circuit Upholds Michigan’s Public Act 53 Regulating Public School Union Dues

May 23, 2013 by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Michigan's Public Act 53 prohibits public-school employers from providing payroll deductions to collect union membership dues from public-school employees. A group of union and union members challenged the Act facially, alleging that it violated their federal constitutional rights. More ›

California Court Decertifies wage, Break Claims due to lack of Commonality

May 22, 2013 by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Home delivery newspaper carriers brought suit against the publisher for violations of the California Labor Code, arguing that they were not paid overtime wages, the proper minimum wage, and did not receive rest breaks, among other things. Specifically, the carriers claimed that they were improperly classified as independent contractors, though they were actually more akin to employees, and thus should have received the benefits of being an employee (such as receiving overtime wages). More ›

EEOC Alleges Employer Violated GINA by Requesting Family Medical Histories

May 20, 2013 by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

On May 16, 2013, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed an action against a nursing home and rehabilitation facility, claiming violations of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC claims that, among other things, the employer required applicants and employees to provide genetic information in response to questions about family and medical history, and that the employer lacked the requisite workplace postings specifying workers’ rights under the Act. Specifically, the EEOC contends that prospective and current employees were required to undergo medical examinations in order to be deemed fit to work, and during those examinations, the employees were asked for family medical histories which were then used to make adverse employment decisions to their detriment.   More ›

California Court Finds Compensation Scheme does not meet Salary Basis test, Denies Exemption

May 17, 2013 by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

The California Court of Appeals recently considered whether a compensation scheme which is based solely upon the number of hours worked, with no guaranteed minimum, may be considered a “salary” within the meaning of wage and hour laws.  More ›

Third Circuit: Appointment of NLRB Member During Intrasession Break not Valid

May 17, 2013 by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

In an ongoing and continuing discussion and battle concerning President Obama’s recess appointment of Craig Becker as a member of the National Labor Relations Board back in 2010, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has weighed in, holding that the appointment was invalid, and that the board panel which included Becker therefore lacked a valid quorum. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals considered this issue because the Board issued a bargaining order to a nursing facility, which the facility claimed was invalid due to lack of quorum.  More ›

Employer’s Required Fitness-For-Duty Exam did not Violate ADA

May 10, 2013 by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

The employee worked as a customer service representative at a call center for the employer. He was responsible for monitoring the performance of frontline call center associates and regularly worked from home.   More ›

Employee’s Need for time off for Medical Reasons does not Protect her from Termination

May 9, 2013 by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

The Seventh Circuit Court of appeals recently affirmed summary judgment for the employer on an employee's ADA and FMLA claims. In this case, the employee was terminated after she was absent many times due to symptoms (and the ultimate diagnosis) of multiple sclerosis. She was unable to adhere to the company's attendance guidelines, was not eligible for leave, and could not perform the essential functions of her job (e.g., attendance) even with reasonable accommodation.  More ›

Court Finds Epileptic Employee not "Qualified Individual" Under ADA or Missouri Law

May 8, 2013 by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

A mammography technician with epilepsy had suffered numerous seizures at work. The technician suffered epileptic seizures unpredictably, and they caused her to lose orientation and muscle control, which led to falls and injuries. The risk of injury to the technician and patients was too great, and the employer placed her on paid administrative leave. The employer thereafter made various other accommodations in order to eliminate environmental triggers to her seizures. Though she returned to work, the seizures continued. Her continued seizures and failure to find a accommodation led to the employer placing the technician on unpaid administrative leave. Once she began taking medicine to help control her seizures, the employer offered to reinstate her, but she refused.  More ›

D.C. Circuit Court Strikes down NLRB Posting Rule

May 8, 2013 by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

The National Labor Relations Board (“Board”) had previously passed a rule that employers who were subject to its jurisdiction were required to post on their properties and websites a “Notification of Employee Rights under the National Labor Relations Act.” The posting basically advises employees of their rights to:  More ›

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