During the holiday break, I did what many lawyers do (but will publicly deny): I watched a few ”bad” reality tv shows. No, I didn’t watch “Here Comes Honey Boo-boo” (even I have my limits). But on the Food Network was a marathon of episodes of a show called “Mystery Diners”. The show is based around so-called “Mystery… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: electronic monitoring
Spying on Your Employees? Know the Law First
Posted in Highlight, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Manager & HR Pro’s Resource CenterA recent story in a Forbes blog disclosed how one company fired 25 employees, after monitoring its employees’ computer activity. Of course, the CEO learned that secret recordings work both way, as one employee recorded the termination meeting. Connecticut employers have special obligations when it comes to employee monitoring. In terms of surveillance, Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec…. Continue Reading
Being a Real “Undercover Boss” In Connecticut
Posted in Human Resources (HR) ComplianceLast night, I caught a glimpse of CBS’ hit show "Undercover Boss". The premise of the reality show is simple: A CEO goes "undercover" in the workplace to see what’s "really" happening. In last night’s episode, the CEO of Frontier Airlines went behind the scenes to, among other things, remove human waste from airplane bathrooms. Putting… Continue Reading
Breaking: U.S. Supreme Court Rules that Two-Member NLRB Decisions Are Improper; Public Employer Can View Employee Text Messages
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Labor Law & NRLB, Laws and Regulations, Litigation, Wage & HourThe U.S. Supreme Court issued decisions in two important labor & employment law cases this morning. Because the cases are limited to some labor law issues and public employers, the impact on private employers may not be immediately felt. But the decisions are notable nonetheless. First, the court issued a 5-4 decision in New Process… Continue Reading
No Private Right of Action to Enforce Connecticut Electronic Monitoring Statute
Posted in LitigationThe Connecticut Supreme Court, in a decision that will be officially released on January 5, 2010, has held that employees cannot bring a private right of action against employers that violate the state’s electronic monitoring statute. In Gerardi v. City of Bridgeport, two city fire inspectors were disciplined for improper job performance through the use… Continue Reading
The Basics: Workplace Conditions of Meal Periods, Breastfeeding, Electronic Monitoring, Lie Detector Tests
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Wage & HourContinuing the summer series on the basics of some employment laws in Connecticut, we turn this week to laws regarding working conditions. Indeed, while the anti-discrimination laws and FMLA laws get all the press, there are a whole host of other laws that regulate the workplace conditions. These are no less important and ignoring this rules… Continue Reading
Google Latitude in Connecticut’s Workplaces – What Employers Should Know Before Tracking Employees
Posted in Human Resources (HR) ComplianceGoogle released a new program last week called Latitude. You can get full details here, but the gist of it is that can show your location (and the location of your friends) real-time on a map. So, suppose you and your teenager have cell-phones — voila, you can see on a map where they are… Continue Reading
You’ve Been Sued; What Phrases Are “Hot” for Electronic Discovery Searches?
Posted in Human Resources (HR) ComplianceUPDATED 12/3/08 During this decade, electronic discovery has moved from the fringes into the mainstream when litigating employment law claims. What does this mean? In many cases, employers must now run keyword searches and other types of searches on their computer systems to find information that might be relevant to the lawsuit at issue. But what search terms… Continue Reading
Court: Arbitrator Was Correct When It Found State Had “Just Cause” for Terminating Employee Misusing Computer
Posted in Human Resources (HR) ComplianceDoes the state have "just cause" to fire an employee who misuses his work computer by accessing shopping websites, and two websites where you can purchase hallucinogenic mushrooms? That is the question that was answered in the affirmative, albeit indirectly, by the Connecticut Supreme Court, in a decision to be officially released on August 5,… Continue Reading
Guest Blogger: Computer Monitoring of Email in the Workplace — Whose Problem Is It?
Posted in Human Resources (HR) ComplianceWhen my trial is over (end of March??!!), perhaps I’ll be able to tell you all about the madness that is sometimes the Connecticut civil court system. But in the meantime, we are blessed today with another guest blogger. Kris Dunn, who runs the fabulous HR Capitalist Blog, is a seasoned pro in human resources…. Continue Reading
Quick Takes: What I’m Reading This Week in HR Issues and Employment Law
Posted in LitigationThere’s been a lot of good material this week and there just isn’t time for full-fledged posts on each of them. But check these other posts for some additional information or background on various employment-law topics that may have an impact in Connecticut. The Word on Employment Law has a good alternative take on the… Continue Reading
Updating Employee Handbooks — Even Road Signs Need to be Replaced
Posted in Human Resources (HR) ComplianceNext time you’re driving on the highway, take a look at the road signs. Not for what they say, but how they say it. Are they new or worn? Easy to read or difficult to see? Straightforward or confusing? If you drive down I-95 around Fairfield and Westport, you’ll notice something different lately. The signs… Continue Reading
About Daniel Schwartz
Trusted advisor. Experienced employment law attorney. Bar leader. Award-winning author. Noted Speaker. "Legal Rebel". All can be said to be apt descriptions of Daniel Schwartz, a member of Pullman & Comley. More +
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