Insights Archive - Ogletree Deakins

A New Valentine’s Day Conundrum for Employers: Could Emoji Messages Amount to Harassment in the #MeToo Era?

It’s Valentine’s Day yet again, but this year the climate is different for employers. Between the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, and the near-daily collapse of famous and powerful men (and some women) due to allegations of sexual harassment, employers are on high alert for any sign that sexual misconduct could be going on underneath their noses. While the holiday season usually brings the most challenges for human resources professionals trying to ensure holiday parties do not get out of hand and religious accommodation issues are properly handled, another holiday causes heartburn for many: Valentine’s Day.

Kelly S. Hughes Charlotte Author

The Holiday Hiring Frenzy: 10 Tips That Will Keep You Off the Naughty List

It’s that time of year again—many employers, especially retailers and hospitality employers, are hiring seasonal workers for the holiday shopping season. Despite the challenge of adding so many employees in a short period of time, human resources departments should be cautious of taking shortcuts with recruiting, onboarding, and training.

Kelly S. Hughes Charlotte Author

Keeping the Scrooge Out of Seasonal Hiring: 6 Tips for Retailers

November and December account for a substantial portion of retail sales—up to 30 percent of annual sales for some businesses. And while there are reports that this holiday shopping season has been delayed due to the presidential election, sales are still expected to top last year’s. A survey conducted by the National Retail Federation predicts that retailers will hire almost 700,000 seasonal workers to meet their needs this holiday season.

Kelly S. Hughes Charlotte Author

Jocks and Docs: Classifying Postdocs and Coaches Under the DOL’s New Rules

On May 18, 2016, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its final rule, “Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales and Computer Employees,” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Lisa Karen Atkins Birmingham Author

Kelly S. Hughes Charlotte Author

Transgender Issues in the Workplace: Navigating a Changing Legal Landscape

Legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity is popping up all around the country. From California’s Senate Bill 703 prohibiting state agencies from entering into certain contracts with contractors that discriminate between employees on the basis of gender identity in the provision of benefits, to the proliferation of cities and counties with nondiscrimination ordinances that protect transgender employees, more employers may be facing gender identity issues in the near future.

Kelly S. Hughes Charlotte Author

Nonnie L. Shivers Phoenix Author

Employers Can Decide That Physical Presence at the Workplace is an Essential Function

On April 10, 2015, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its long-awaited en banc decision in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Ford Motor Company following a vacated panel decision from April 2014 in which a divided panel had reversed a district court’s summary judgment award in Ford’s favor.

Kelly S. Hughes Charlotte Author

Three Tips on Avoiding Summer Internship Headaches

Spring is here and retailers across the country are considering hiring summer interns in areas such as finance, communications, marketing, merchandising, production, and public relations. Internships serve a valuable training role for students interested in retail careers, and they provide an important recruiting vehicle for retailers. According to the National Retail Federation, retailers in the United States hired approximately 9,400 college students for internships and filled more than 2,000 full-time jobs with 2014 graduates last summer.

Diane M. Saunders Boston Author

‘Tis the (Retail) Season, Part III: Five Tips for Hiring Seasonal Workers

It’s that time of year once again! Retailers are gearing up for the holidays and hiring seasonal workers in droves. Unfortunately, the flurry of activity and the common misperception that seasonal workers have a different employment status because they are “temporary” workers can often result in employers cutting corners when…..

Kelly S. Hughes Charlotte Author

Introducing the Retail Practice Group Blog

Ogletree Deakins is pleased to announce the formation of its Retail Practice Group— comprised of a diverse group of attorneys who are experienced in advising and representing retailers in a wide range of labor and employment matters. The attorneys in our Retail Practice Group work with retailers throughout the country…..

Diane M. Saunders Boston Author

Kelly S. Hughes Charlotte Author