Happy Holidays!

If the complete lack of posts didn't clue you in, I'm out for the holidays. But don't worry, we will be back in 2007 (is it really '07?) with lots more employment law goodness.
Until then, please accept my best wishes to you and yours this holiday season. We'll see you next year.
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Fah-la-la-la-lawsuit!

Found this great article at Slate poking fun at all the silliness that surrounds the issue of office Christmas parties. It includes this great disclaimer for your use on your company's party invitations:
WARNING: You are herein invited to attend a Holiday Party. Should you choose to attend this event, you are herein advised that you do so at your own peril. Food served may be manufactured in factories that may contain machinery that may have touched peanuts. In the absence of any coherent party-based sexual-harassment policy, you are warned that any hugging/touching/casual flirting/wine-stem fondling/hair tossing/breast gazing/butt grabbing will be deemed actionable at law. All guests must maintain a 5-foot distance from all others at all times (spouses included). Appropriate topics for conversation are: work; sports; light political banter; reality-television shows. Any unapproved conversational topics shall be cleared in advance by the Human Resources department. All dance moves shall be preapproved by the HR department. Seminars on these moves shall be conducted twice daily in the small conference room on the second floor between now and the day of the party. All closets, conference rooms, restrooms, and other possible areas of sexual misconduct are to be padlocked for the duration of the event. Small children are to be chaperoned at all times. Any child found playing or otherwise conducting himself in a childlike manner will be summarily removed from the premises. Should you or your partner feel at any point during the party that you have been sexually harassed, socially discomfited, religiously proselytized, or otherwise made to feel uneasy in any way, a team of HR lawyers will be made available to you immediately. Do not minimize your feelings or wait a few days to see if the bad feeling blows over. Prompt attention to any social discomfort is critical to eradicating it in the workplace. Once again, we wish you and yours a very happy holiday season, and hope to make this year's office party the best ever.
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Robert Reich on Human Capital

There's an interesting conversation with Robert Reich (former Secretary of Labor, now a Professor at University of California Berkeley) in the current issue of CIO Insight ("The Economics of People," December 5, 2006). Most of the article is a summary of series of conversations between Reich and editor Allan Alter. Although Alter's focus is on the implications of the current economy on the IT workforce, Reich's insights and observations are relevant to all knowledge workers.
Hat tip to Future of Work Blog for the tip.Sexual Harassment Pregnancy Discrimination Age Discrimination San Antonio Employment Lawyer Texas Employment Lawyer Texas Sexual Harassment Age Discrimination Texas Overtime Texas Age Discrimination
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Tips for the Office Christmas Party

The office is frequently a place where employees and employers get together to celebrate special events. This year, 94% of businesses will throw a holiday celebration. Office parties typically mean lots of music, food and drinks. If the drinks include alcohol, however, office parties can have very unfortunate consequences. Opinions vary regarding the appropriateness of making alcoholic beverages available at office parties, however, according to a recent survey 86% of companies will serve alcoholic beverages at their party this year. This often leads to embarassing situations for employees. A recent survey from Vault.com found that 57% of respondents said they've gotten drunk at workplace celebrations, and more than two thirds, 68%, said they've embarrassed themselves or seen others embarrassed themselves as a result. This is in addition to the danger that some employees or guests may drive home "under the influence".So before the party gets going this year, give some thought to how its organized, set up some policies regarding appropriate behavior, designate some members of management to stay sober and keep an eye out for innapropriate behavior and/or employees that should not be driving themselves home. Also think seriously about making some alternative forms of transportation available.
To help, the Department of Labor has posted some tips for throwing an office party that minimizes the associated risks. Give it a look.

Then check out this list of office party do's and don'ts from Forbes.com.Sexual Harassment Pregnancy Discrimination Age Discrimination San Antonio Employment Lawyer Texas Employment Lawyer Texas Sexual Harassment Age Discrimination Texas Overtime Texas Age Discrimination
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Ho Ho Ho...Worst job ever!

It always amazes me what people will spend their time researching. This week, a survey regarding the working conditions of mall santas was conducted for Auntie Anne's Inc., (yes, the pretzel people) of 339 members of the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas.According to the survey, 90% of Santas report having their beard pulled by a child, three-quarters said they have up to 10 children cry while sitting on their laps every day, and a third of all Santas reported having been wet on by a child. Also according to the survey, more than three-quarters of the children say they have been good during the year, but only half the Santas believe the children are telling the truth.

Here's the story.
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