PTSD: Post-Termination Separation Dangers
Karen G. Schanfield
When Hamlet uttered the immortal words “Revenge should have no bounds,” he probably wasn’t thinking about twenty-first century employers. As it turns out, “revenge” can be costly, particularly when former employees are involved. Title VII, the federal law that prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, and other protected class status, also prohibits retaliation against current—and former—employees who engage in protected conduct. A former employee who has asserted rights under Title VII may have a claim for retaliation when a former employer declines to rehire the employee, provides a negative reference, or opposes an application for unemployment compensation benefits.
Is Your Employee Handbook Working For or Against You?
Robert C. Boisvert, Jr.
The poor employee handbook. Cursed by human resources professionals who struggle to write it and ignored by employees who are supposed to read it. Why should an employer even bother?
Employer Obligations to Veterans and Military Members Continue to Expand
Mary M. Krakow
The federal “Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011” became law on November 21, 2011. The new law amended and expanded employment protections for employees under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). In addition, several other federal and Minnesota statutes provide employment protections to employees related to their own military service and the service of their family members. As employees and their family members continue to be called for and return from military service, employers need to ensure compliance with these multiple laws.
Congress Considers “Crowdfunding” and Other Changes in Securities Laws
Robert K. Ranum
Several bills changing federal securities laws to make it easier for emerging companies to raise money are percolating in Congress. In a remarkable display of bipartisan support, the House of Representatives passed a crowdfunding bill (H.R. 2930) on November 1, 2011, by a vote of 407 - 17, and crowdfunding bills have also been introduced in the Senate (S. 1791 and S. 1970). “Crowdfunding” can be generally described as raising money from a large number of small investors via the internet in a manner similar to websites such as Kickstarter and Kiva. Other Senate bills propose to raise the 500 shareholder threshold at which companies are required to register under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (S. 1824) and eliminate the ban on general solicitation and advertising in private placements (S. 1831). Still another bill seeks to provide emerging growth companies with less a burdensome regulatory pathway or “on-ramp” to the public markets without compromising investor protection (S. 1933).