Ethics
-
Law Firm Ordered to Restore Retirement, Pension Plan Assets
Eichholz Law Firm P.C. and former Managing Partner Benjamin Eichholz breached their fiduciary responsibilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by improperly transferring and lending plan assets to prohibited recipients.
-
Risky Business People: Study Finds 1 in 8 Workers Bring Potential Peril to Their Company
Organizations need to recognize the advantages and disadvantages of behavioral risk of all employees. Doing so allows an organization to manage risk in a constructive way, according to a study published by SHL, an Atlanta-based talent management company.
-
Holiday Parties Turn Into Sandy Relief Efforts
Companies across the city ask their employees to raise money and bring canned goods and clothing. Those affected by the storm, including teachers and firefighters, get invitations.
-
Drama Discussions a Drag for Workers and a Bother for Bosses
Of the nearly 300 corporate executives, managers and employees who took a recent survey, nearly 40 percent said sex and relationships were the most taboo workplace topic.
-
Wal-Mart Expands FCPA Probe to Brazil, China, India
The FCPA, a federal law with criminal and civil penalties jointly enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice and the SEC, punishes foreign bribery, inaccurate financial records and inadequate controls.
-
Turkey Processing Company Must Pay $1.3 Million to Disabled Workers for 'Severely Substandard' Wages
On Sept. 18, Judge Charles R. Wolfe of federal district court for the southern district of Iowa in Davenport ordered Hill Country to pay $1.
-
California Hospital to Pay $975,000 to Settle Racial Harassment, Discrimination Case
The EEOC said the hospital's English-only language policy was used to harass and discriminate against Filipino employees in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
-
Ex-Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Exec: I Was Fired for Whistle-blowing
Clifford Jagodzinski alleged in a complaint filed last month that his firing in April by MSSB was “an action for unlawful retaliation under the Dodd-Frank Act,” as well as claims under state law.
-
National Origin, Religious Harassment Alleged in EEOC Suit Against UPS
Since 2004, Talal Alfaour, a loader at UPS in San Francisco, allegedly had faced verbal and physical harassment, often referred to by supervisors and co-workers as “Dr. Bomb,” “al-Qaida” and “Taliban,” the EEOC said in a statement.
-
How to Avoid Ethics Scandals
The only way to create an ethical workplace is by rewarding the right behavior—even if it means losing business.
-
Jury Award of $3.5M Reinstated in Chrysler Discrimination Case
According to the ruling by the 7th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago in Otto May Jr. v. Chrysler Group L.L.C., the Cuban-born May was the target of racist, xenophobic, homophobic and anti-Semitic graffiti that appeared in and around the company's paint department between 2002 and 2005.
-
Racism Lawsuit Targets Mercedes-Benz Store
A lawsuit filed in federal court in New York charges that Burnell Guyton, 54, and Andre Grammer, 44, both black, found racist graffiti on several occasions in a bathroom stall used by employees.
-
Whistle-Blower Suit Involving Company's Visa Practices Dismissed
Judge Myron H. Thompson of U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama in Montgomery said while Palmer's charges are “deeply troubling,” there was no evidence that Bangalore, India-based Infosys had violated Alabama state law.
-
General Motors' CEO Dan Akerson Urges Employees to 'Behave With Integrity'
Akerson told employees he wants to focus GM more on brands and customers, and better position the company to survive the next 50 or 100 years.
-
Former United Flight Attendant Files Whistle-Blower Lawsuit
Malcolm Hamilton alleged he was fired after reporting to the Federal Aviation Administration that United had an “unofficial, unspoken policy” requiring flight attendants to file false reports.
-
State Court Upholds Gay Employee's Hostile Work Environment Claim
Said one attorney, 'This is the first appellate-level case in the country that extends hostile work environment (claims) to the area of sexual orientation.'
-
Ethics Group Warns of ‘Steep Declines’ in Workforce Trust
The ‘ominous warning signs’ of an ethics decline, says the Ethics Resource Center in a new survey, include a sharp increase in retaliation against employee whistle-blowers.
-
SEC: Financial Advisers Traded on Info Gleaned From AA Meeting
The pair allegedly learned about an upcoming insurance company merger during an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, where shares rose 64 percent.
-
Cleaning Up Your Supply Chain
Keeping tabs on the labor in the international industrial supply chain isn't easy, but many resources exist to help make sense of it.
-
Staffing Firm to Pay $148,000 in Pregnancy Suit
The lawsuit alleged HCS owner Charles Sisson discriminated against Roxy Leger, the company's bookkeeper, when he made offensive comments about her pregnancy and fired her because she needed to take maternity leave following the birth of her son, according to the EEOC.
-
IT Employment Hits All-Time High
On an annual basis, IT jobs were up 3.4 percent in 2011, more than double the rate of growth that IT employment experienced in 2010 of 1.5 percent.
-
FTC Warns Mobile App Marketers Providing Background Checks
The Federal Trade Commission has sent letters to marketers that the agency says may be providing criminal background information to employers through the marketers' background screening applications—an activity the FTC says may violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
-
SAP Hires Controversial Executive Julie Roehm
Former Chrysler marketing executive Julie Roehm is the new senior vice president of marketing at business-software company SAP.
-
Patagonia Fills Payroll With People Who Are Passionate
Perennially recognized as a good workplace for mothers, the California company also has earned a reputation for employee loyalty at a time when other apparel retailers commonly see turnover of more than 100 percent annually.
-
Hero of Missouri Tornado Disaster Finally Gets Comp Benefits
The 51-year-old social worker's medical expenses have exceeded $2.5 million and are still mounting. He reportedly has no medical insurance.
-
Health Care Cost Hikes Increasing, Expected to Continue
The key difference between the Kaiser Family Foundation and Aon Hewitt surveys is that the KFF survey included more fully insured plans, 40 percent, and more small and midsize firms, 85 percent, with fewer than 5,000 workers.
-
Principal Financial Group's 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security—2011
These companies have shown that a commitment to outstanding benefits can be a factor in having a successful business.
-
NLRB Issues Employee Notification Rule
Private-sector employers with workplaces under NLRB jurisdiction (all but the smallest companies) will be required to post the employee rights notice on bulletin boards in the same area that other notices are typically posted. The rollout has been postponed until Jan. 31, 2012.
-
Investing in Employees
Despite a tough, volatile economy, 10 small to midsize companies have been able to run successful businesses while bringing stability to employees through strong benefits programs.
-
Trader Scandal May Hamstring UBS' Recruiting
The $2.3 billion loss the London-based trader allegedly managed to accumulate will make things difficult for the bank's wealth management business, recruiters said.
-
EEOC Sues Fashion Boutique Delia's for Pregnancy Discrimination
The suspected harassment included constant questioning about some employees' ability to perform their jobs because they were pregnant, recommending they take leaves of absence or forcing them to take maternity leave early.
-
Multiple Choice Unrest: HRCI-SHRM Link Leaves Many Stumped
A low pass rate on exams and high cost for study materials have HR practitioners seeking to earn their credentials questioning the blurry relationship between SHRM and HRCI.
-
Judge Dismisses Reporter's Discrimination, Retaliation Case Against Fox News
The EEOC had charged New York City-based Fox News with violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title I of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 with respect to its treatment of reporter and former anchor Catherine...
-
Solving the Diversity Puzzle
Lecturing employees about diversity is one thing, but some companies are taking training a step further. Strategies include engaging employees in teamwork exercises and having workers simulate disabilities.
-
Aon Unit Sues Riskonnect After Employees Jump Ship
The company seeks injunctive relief and damages against the three employees and Riskonnect for wrongful activities, according to the lawsuit.
-
Agencies Employers Must Provide Preventive Health Care Services to Women
The mandate would apply for plan years starting on or after Aug. 1, 2012. For calendar years, compliance would begin on Jan. 1, 2013.
-
SHRM, Dissident Group Set Summit to Air Differences
The SHRM Members for Transparency, which formed last year largely over concerns about the SHRM board’s 2005 decision to pay board members, had been asking to meet with SHRM leaders since the fall of 2010.
-
Most Companies Moderately Concerned About Comparing Pay, Performance
The SEC plans to propose and finalize implementation rules for the Dodd-Frank act's provision on executive pay and corporate performance sometime between August and December, although there is no indication they would take effect for the 2012 proxy season.
-
Union Workers Filing Federal Complaint Over Heat Lamps at Chicago Hotel
Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels Corp., which runs the hotel, has already apologized for the incident, saying the decision ‘was not in line with our values or with our corporate policies.’
-
Newspaper Dings Employees Retirement Plan, Then Reconsiders
A recent letter from Prudential Retirement to employees explained that the pro rata fee was a result of the expense of combining some of the plans in a way that would reduce administrative expenses later.
-
The Last Word Cultural Awareness
Many people yearn to belong to an organization whose principles they share and can embrace in their daily work. And if corporate stewards tend the culture well, they can count on an engaged and committed workforce for many years to come.
-
SHRM Agrees to Meet With Protest Group Regarding Differences
The announcement was made across the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center where the world’s largest HR professional association is holding its 63rd annual conference from June 26 to 29.
-
Sexual Harassment Bills Proposed for Hotels
The proposed laws come in the wake of two alleged attacks by high-profile people in New York hotels, including the alleged sexual assault by Dominique Strauss-Kahn at the Sofitel in Manhattan.
-
Dissident Group Sounds Off on Perceived SHRM Show Snub
As the largest HR professional association prepares for its 63rd annual conference in Las Vegas, frustration among some members is growing. The SHRM Members for Transparency website lists 46 official members—most are former board chairs and board members of SHRM, the SHRM Foundation and the HRCI.
-
Labor Department Seeks Comment on Electronic Benefit Transmission Rules
The agency said there have been substantial changes in technology since previous rule changes in 2002, including expansion of wireless networks, improvements in computing power, and introduction of smartphones and other personal computing devices.
-
The Last Word: The New College Try
I realized just how cutthroat the admission process had become when my son and I attended a college information session last summer in Massachusetts. It’s all about 'the strategic packaging of yourself,' the admissions official said. 'This is no time for humility.'
-
Employer Liable Under Jones Act for Worker Shot Aboard Drilling Rig
The shooting occurred in December 2009 when crane operator Keith Beech was off duty and resting on a couch watching television aboard the vessel, according to court records.
-
Winners Gather in Chicago for 20th Annual Workforce Management Optimas Awards
This year’s event, held March 24 in Chicago at the Mid-America Club located in the Aon Center, took on a global perspective, as Mumbai, India-based Tata Consultancy Services won General Excellence honors.
-
Workplace Guidance Remains Elusive After Facebook Posting Case Is Settled
In the agreement, American Medical Response agreed to ‘revise its overly broad rules’ to ensure that employees’ rights to discuss working conditions are protected, according to a written statement by the NLRB.
-
The Last Word: Social Disgraces
'Blame such incivility on greater stress and overburdened workers if you will, but it’s still unacceptable behavior that can prove costly to companies in terms of employee morale, productivity and turnover.'
-
Supreme Court Rules Background Checks Appropriate for NASA Lab Workers
A group of 28 contract workers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, sued arguing the background checks violated their right to privacy. The contract workers were hired at a time before such background checks were required.
-
Shared Value Proposition Puts New Emphasis on Responsible Business Practices
Authors say the keys to achieve shared value are reconceiving products and markets; redefining productivity in the supply chain; and developing localized ‘clusters’ at the company’s locations.
-
Virginia Court Says Horseplay Doctrine Entitles Worker to Comp
The state high court employed a theory of recovery, which has found that joking actions of co-workers are a risk of employment because humans are playful and from time to time engage in pranks, which can be dangerous.
-
The Degeneration of Decorum
Stress caused by rude behavior in the workplace might be costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars a year. Some employers are taking action to restore civility and improve employee morale.
-
Employment Discrimination Settlements Surge
A 664-page report analyzes 848 decisions rendered against employers in state and federal courts, including private plaintiff and government enforcement actions. The $346.4 million total for the top 10 in 2010 compares with $84.4 million for the top 10 during 2009.
-
Injury While Traveling for Business Ruled Compensable
The high court’s 8-1 decision in Liana Leordeanu v. American Protection Insurance Co. overturned a state appellate court ruling involving a pharmaceutical sales representative who worked from her apartment and got into an accident while driving a company car.
-
Supreme Court to Decide Wal-Mart Class-Action Lawsuit
The case, which by some estimates encompasses more than 1.5 million members, is said to be the largest workplace class-action lawsuit ever certified.
-
Vanguard CEO to Employees: Let's Lose the Suits
Despite being more than 100 miles away from the formalities of Wall Street, Vanguard always has required its employees worldwide to dress in business attire: a jacket and tie for men and professional dress for women.
-
Microsoft Corp. Optimas Award Winner for Corporate Citizenship
For its efforts at helping leaders see how corporate citizenship can be strategic, Microsoft is the winner of this year’s Optimas Award for Corporate Citizenship.
-
IRS Extends Deadline to Alter Defined Benefit Plans
The one-year extension will likely give employers more time to prepare plan documents.
-
Medical Malpractice Liability Reforms, Health Care Benefits Up for Vote
A report by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform suggests that, starting in 2014, employees would be taxed on employer health care plan contributions. By 2038, all employer health care plan contributions would be added to employees’ taxable income.
-
Labor Department Sues Houston-Based Staffing Firm
The lawsuit also seeks to permanently bar the defendants from serving in a fiduciary capacity in any plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
-
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act Rules Issued
Title II of GINA prohibits using genetic information in making employment decisions, restricts acquisition of genetic information by employers and strictly limits its disclosure.
-
Court Fired Workers Get More Than Six Months to File Comp Claim
Oklahoma’s Legislature enacted a law cited by the employer to curtail fired workers from filing retaliatory workers’ comp claims, court records state.
-
Ex-Financial Manager Claims He Was Fired for Flagging Violations
According to the lawsuit, the reported violations include incidents relating to forgery, fraud, unlicensed sales, unlicensed signing of documents, overcharging for financial planning services, underdelivery of financial planning advice, and breaches of client privacy and data security.
-
Court Rules for University in Deans Demotion
A three-judge panel in Connecticut unanimously held that a university was justified in demoting Amir Faghri because of his management position.
-
Yahoo Takes New 'Road' on Ethics Training
A tailored training package replaces one seen as too middle-American and middle-aged for a multinational company with a youthful workforce.
-
Text Message Ruling Offers Employers Guidance While Skirting Employee Privacy Rights
A well-crafted and broadly distributed policy that puts employees on notice of how and when the employer will access these communications can go a long way toward strengthening the employer’s hand in litigation.
-
Nonresident Blogger Can Be Sued Over Florida Defamation
The company sued the blogger for defamation in federal court in Florida, but she sought to have the suit dismissed because of her lack of ties to the state. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals eventually asked the Florida Supreme Court to determine whether Florida law applied in the case.
-
Study Few Discrimination Suits Filed as Class Actions
The American Bar Foundation study, which covers employment discrimination cases filed in federal courts between 1987 and 2003, found that about 19 percent of cases are dismissed, and 50 percent of closed filings involve an early settlement.
-
Groups Sue Feds Over Anti-Staffing Rule
In January, a document called the Neufeld Memo reversed previous USCIS policy and determined that IT staffing firms are not ‘U.S. employers’ allegedly because they don’t exercise control over their consultants.
-
Textile Companys Plan Taken Over by PBGC
The agency estimates that the plan is 52 percent funded, with $14.2 million in assets to cover $27.1 million in liabilities. The PBGC will assume $12.7 million of the $12.9 million shortfall.
-
Labor Policy Set for Change as SEIU, NLRB Get New Blood
Although the union is in flux, many observers say that the organization will continue to wield significant influence in business and politics.
-
Employment Agency Owners in Georgia Indicted
The employment agencies—New Fuzhou, Zhong Mei and Lucky—allegedly placed the workers in mainly restaurant jobs in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
-
5 Questions With Dov Seidman Inspiration as Worker Incentive
It's the era of inspiration, author Dov Seidman says. Companies must help employees tap into intrinsic motivation rather than rely on carrots and sticks, contends Seidman, founder of consulting firm LRN and author of the book HOW: Why HOW We Do Anything Means Everything … in Business (and in Life).
-
Tribune Co. Proposes Another Round of Executive Bonus Payouts
The requests for bonus payments follow a payout of $42 million in February to top managers under bonus programs for work performed last year.
