The 16th annual West Central Minnesota Employment Law Update will be held Wednesday, June 5, 2019 in Alexandria. The session will include presentations by attorneys who practice extensively in the area of employment law, including Grant Collins, Tom Jacobson, Sara McGrane, Mike Moberg and Penny Phillips.*
Save the Date! 16th Annual West Central MN Employment Law Update Set
Office Romance Perils: Cupid, Draw Back your Bow, but Not at Work
Without question, some of the nastiest cases we've handled have started with office romance gone bad. It makes perfect sense; two people break off a romantic relationship but are then expected to get along in the same workplace. One may feel jilted - the other, harassed. Co-workers sense the mounting tension, and they take sides. The problem is even worse when the romance involves a supervisor and subordinate, for that often results in allegations of favoritism by co-workers and / or retaliation by the subordinate. Eventually, it devolves into claims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
Jacobson to Chair Legal Specialist Certification Committee
Swenson Lervick attorney Tom Jacobson has been named Chair of the Criminal Law Committee of the Minnesota Board of Legal Certification.
The Problem with Probationary Periods
By: Tom Jacobson, Attorney
The Failure of Anti-Bias Training: Is Employee Engagement the Solution ?
Earlier this year, my wife and I seized the opportunity to travel to Doha, Qatar to visit our son who was stationed at nearby Al Udeid Air Force Base. It was a remarkable experience. We toured the Souq Waqif (photo above), the Pearl
(photo at right) and the Museum of Islamic Art (photo at below left), tasted the international cuisine, soaked up some sun, and swam in the Persian Gulf
. As we engaged with those we met, we realized that despite our differences, we shared many things in common. We all seem to enjoy a good meal with friends and family, basking in the sun (photo below at left)
, and Coca-Cola (photo below at right)
, to name a few. Though our visit was brief, we left with a better understanding of the people living and working there.
State Minimum Wage Set to Increase on January 1
The minimum wage for Minnesota employees will take another jump effective January 1, 2019. For large employers (any enterprise with an annual gross revenue of $500,000.00 or more), the minimum wage will increase from $9.65 to $9.86 per hour. For small employers (any enterprise with annual gross revenue of less than $500,000.00), it will jump from $7.87 to $8.04.
Alternatives to Court
The courthouse is not the only place to resolve civil disputes. Many cases are settled through alternative forms of dispute resolution ("ADR"). Two of the most common forms are mediation and arbitration.
Does Anybody Really Know what Time it Is?
That's the question Chicago asks in the song of the same name on their classic 1969 debut album, Chicago Transit Authority (here's a link to the original version before it was shortened for radio play). When it comes to the deadlines for bringing legal claims, not knowing the time will indeed give you "time enough to cry." That's because the law sets deadlines, called statutes of limitation, by which legal claims must be pursued. If those deadlines are missed, the claim can no longer be made in court, no matter how strong the facts and law may be to support it.
Employees' Election Day Rights
In a week, many of us will breathe a sigh of relief that campaign ad season will be over (for now). So, now is a good time for Minnesota employers and employees to think ahead about their election day rights.
Court Rules in Favor of Employee who Lost Childcare
Any parent of young children in Minnesota can tell horror stories about how difficult it is to find childcare. The shortage of childcare here has reached crisis levels (see Minnesota's 'quiet crisis' in child care: 'There's not a silver bullet', St. Cloud Times, April 13, 2018; Child care shortage reaching 'crisis' levels, Business North, Aug. 9, 2018). Often, the crisis impacts the parents' availability to work, which in turn impacts their ability to support their families. Recently, the Minnesota Court of Appeals gave those parents some help by ruling in favor of a mother who quit her job because she lost childcare.
