Archives of Newsletter Articles

Employee Files EEOC Charge, Then Copies Five Confidential Coworker Files

Q: Protected Title VII Activity? A: Not When This Also Breaks State Law. Employer Pop Quiz: If an employee has filed a charge with the EEOC alleging discriminatory discipline, then that same employee reviews, copies, and distributes confidential personnel files of coworkers, all without authorization, can you fire her for that? As usual, the answer is: […]

North Carolina Court of Appeals Rules Non-Compete and Liquidated Damages Provisions Unenforceable for Public Policy

InAesthetic Facial & Ocular Plastic Surgery Center, P.A. v. Zaldivar, the North Carolina Court of Appeals last month unanimously affirmed a lower court’s ruling that a former employer’s restrictive covenants against a highly specialized physician were unenforceable because they would harm public health by restricting patient access to a scarce medical resource in violation of […]

DOL Proposes Rule to Raise Salary Threshold for FLSA Overtime Exemptions

We know many of you have been awaiting word on new salary thresholds since the Obama administration’s 2016 proposal was struck down by the courts. Here is the new proposal in a nutshell: “White collar” exemption salary threshold is planned to increase by $11,648 To $679 weekly ($35,308 annually) From $455 weekly ($23,660 annually) Expected effective […]