Ryan Ellis

Proposals Would Relax Hiring Restrictions for Banks, Credit Unions The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) recently released proposed rules to give banks and credit unions more flexibility to hire people who have committed relatively minor crimes. This is a welcome change for credit unions and banks looking to […]

Ending Temporary Work Assignment Not Considered Discharge In the ever-evolving world of labor law, one of the most frequent legal questions that arises is whether an employee who finishes a temporary assignment is considered to have been discharged or not. Recently, a California appeals court ruled that when an employee of a staffing agency was

Unsung Heroes: Celebrating the Small Victories in the Workplace The term “unsung hero” has been used to describe a variety of different people, ranging from the everyday person who is quietly making a difference in their community to a celebrity who has a lasting impact on their field. In the workplace, however, “unsung heroes” are

The Shady Investor Investing money is a major decision that can greatly affect your life. If you make a wrong decision, the consequences can be serious and long-lasting. That’s why it’s so important to do your due diligence and be sure that you are dealing with a legitimate party. The letter-writer who wrote to ask

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released a proposal to clarify that personal protective equipment (PPE) must fit construction workers properly. OSHA’s proposed rule aims to reduce workplace injuries and fatalities by ensuring that construction workers are properly protected from hazards while on the job. The proposed rule would require construction employers

Broad Social-Media Policy Doesn’t Preclude Unemployment Benefits In a recent ruling, the Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed that a worker fired for allegedly posting vulgar comments wasn’t disqualified from getting state unemployment benefits despite the employer’s broad social media policy. This ruling serves as a reminder to employers that having a broad social media policy does

The Illinois Labor Disputes Act (ILDA) is an important piece of legislation that affects employers and workers in the state. It sets forth the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees when it comes to labor disputes. The ILDA has recently been amended to further protect employers from certain liabilities and to better regulate the

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on May 18 in the case of United States v. National Association of Air Force Technicians was a victory for union employees. The ruling upheld a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision, which determined that a unique group of National Guard technicians are entitled to the same union rights

It’s an unfortunate but inevitable reality that HR professionals and other management officials are sometimes powerless when it comes to resolving workplace conflicts. The latest update to a story we highlighted a few weeks ago only serves to further illustrate this point, as the original letter-writer is still stuck dealing with a awkward situation at

Pay Grew Again, But Slower, in Second Quarter The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released its latest report on compensation and wages for the second quarter of the year. In it, the BLS noted that wages had grown again for the quarter, but at a slower pace than in the first quarter. At