Local athletes did remarkably well at the 2008 Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, which raises an interesting leave issue. It’s an obscure law, but Oregon requires employers to give Olympic athletes leave to compete. Under ORS 659.865, it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to infringe on an employee’s
New Laws Aim to Prevent Employers From Banning Firearms
By now, we’ve all read about the Supreme Court decision holding that the Second Amendment guarantees a private right to possess firearms. But here’s an interesting trend in firearms law that directly impacts employers: several states have passed or are considering laws preventing employers from prohibiting employees from keeping firearms in their cars on company
Hang Up and Drive! Washington and California Ban Cell Phone Use While Driving
Last night I was riding home and was almost run off the street by a woman reading a novel while driving, when I remembered: Effective July 1, 2008, new laws in California and Washington prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Drivers may, however, use a cell phone if the communication is made
New I-9 Form Now Available
A new I-9 form is now available from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. What’s changed, you might ask? Good question. Nothing substantive, merely the expiration date. Ironically, the Paperwork Reduction Act requires government forms to carry an expiration date, and because the old I-9 form expires June 30, 2008, the USCIS has to
Female Crane Operator Sues for Sex Bias Over Urination Policy
Ever wonder how the people who operate those giant construction cranes at a high-rise construction site take bathroom breaks? Thanks to a new case, we now know. In Johnson v. AK Steel Corp., the Southern District of Ohio ruled last month that a female crane operator may proceed with state and federal gender discrimination
Oregon Court of Appeals: Keep Accommodating Medical Marijuana (For Now….)
In Emerald v. Bureau of Labor, The Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed a Bureau of Labor and Industries determination that an employer must reasonably accommodate an employee’s off-duty medical marijuana use. However, the case was affirmed on a technicality – again leaving Oregon employers wondering if they really have to accommodate an employee’s medical marijuana use. Continue Reading Oregon Court of Appeals: Keep Accommodating Medical Marijuana (For Now….)
Former Official Sues NASCAR for Race, Sex Harassment
Today’s big news: Former NASCAR technical inspector Mauricia Grant filed suit against the auto racing league for sexual and racial harassment, discrimination and retaliation, seeking $225 million dollars. According to Grant’s complaint, she was referred to as "Nappy Headed Mo" and "Queen Sheba" by co-workers, was often told she worked on "colored people time" and
Federal Contractors Ordered to Use E-Verify
In an Executive Order dated June 6, 2008, President Bush ordered that all federal contractors will be required to use the E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of employees working on federal contracts. E-Verify is a internet-based system operated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration, which
Ignore this Court Order: Executives Hit with Subpoena Scam
This last month, thousands of high-ranking executives across the country received phony subpoenas by email commanding them to appear before a grand jury in the U. S. District Court in San Diego, California. If you received one of these emails, feel free to ignore it. For more information, check out Stoel Rives’ update. Don’t
Bada Bing! Executives Subject to RICO Suit for Hiring Undocumented Workers
A federal judge in Ohio ruled that an employer’s top executives are subject to a RICO lawsuit for hiring undocumented alien employees. Hager v. ABX Air, Inc., No.2:07-CV-317 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 25, 2008). RICO, the "Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act," is usually associated with attempts to bring down mob bosses and the "legitimate businesses"