Legal Focus

Under Title VII, an employer can be strictly liable for workplace harassment if the victim’s harasser is a supervisor; but what is the difference between an employee and a supervisor? Below you will find information about Title VII, the recent case of Vance v. Ball State University 646 F.3d 461 (2013), and how you as a contractor can protect your staff and your business through education.

In 2011, changes to 24 P.S. § 1-111 (Act 24) were passed tightening the state’s qualifications for certain employees working with or around children by expanding the list of disqualifying offenses and by making those convictions a lifetime ban as opposed to a short term (five year) restriction. Since that time the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has issued several opinions holding that the modified statute was “unconstitutional as applied” in several cases but has not held that the words o...

Whether you are a small or large business owner, an HR professional, or an employee, it is important to understand the basics of Employment Law. Employment laws are in place to ensure that the workplace you provide, or are a part of, is safe and fair. This article covers general information on Equal Opportunity Employment Laws and reviews the regulations under the domain of the Equal Opportunity Commission.

It was a great pleasure to join the PSBA team as they visited Meadville, Washington and Gettysburg during the Regional trip held the last week of March. Each evening session was well attended and we had great participation from the audience. Of course there were a few questions we didn’t get to or we wanted to research the topic a bit more before answering to get the details straight. These excellent questions from the March Regionals are answered below in potpourri fashion.

Personnel Records play an important role in how we manage our staff and our business. Proper recordkeeping and documentation provides business owners with the support, tools, and proof that they need to insure good employee management and prove compliance with the law. Many questions are raised about what should be kept, how long and who should have access to certain information. It would be good to review your record keeping practices to insure you are in the best position to answer questi...

While business growth is exciting, it also increases the costs of labor and related expenses. Businesses that have grown to become “employers” face many new challenges, including the need for Workers’ Compensation Coverage. This note will discuss the obligations of a Pennsylvania employer regarding worker’s compensation and will suggest measures your business can take to minimize the risk of unexpected claims or expenses.

Employers invest significant amounts of time and money in specialized training for prospective and existing employees. When the employee uses their newly acquired knowledge, skill, or credentials for the benefit of the company, the in-vestment pays off. But, if the employee leaves shortly after the training, or never joins the company, the investment is lost. This article provides some insight and suggestions that will help employers avoid losing the value of their investment in specialized trai...