Employment Law
| Unemployment Insurance -- Reform |
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| Through the years, there have been a number of calls to reform the unemployment insurance program. These proposed reforms have included providing the program with additional funding, changing how that funding is used, and redirecting oversight of the program. More... |
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| Unemployment Benefits -- Claiming Benefits |
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| Unemployment benefits are not automatic. After losing his job, an individual must formally request benefits. He will submit a claim and, if eligible, receive payments. The amount he receives and the length of time for which he remains eligible will vary based on a number of factors. More... |
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| Restoration of Position After Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 Leave |
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| In 1993, Congress passed the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The FMLA was intended to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families. Under the FMLA, many employees are guaranteed the right to take unpaid leave. More... |
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| Arbitration -- Labor Agreements -- Substantive Arbitrability |
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| In addition to wages, hours, and benefits, one of the fundamental elements of the labor agreement between a company and a union is the procedure for filing a grievance. Grievance procedures refer to the process by which employers and employees deal with disputes over contract terms, disciplinary actions, and terminations. Based on the nature of the issue and the level of disagreement, these procedures range from simply filing a complaint to a full-blown lawsuit. Somewhere in the middle is arbitration. More... |
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| Invasion of Privacy |
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| Employees may not have privacy rights in email sent on company-owned equipment even if the company makes assurances that all email communications are confidential and privileged. A wrongful discharge case against a Pennsylvania company that made such assurances was recently dismissed after an employee made inappropriate and unprofessional comments to his supervisor. The court found that an employee could have no expectation of privacy in communications made on a company email system to his supervisor. More... |
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