New Guidance on Law Requiring Breaks for Nursing Mothers

Posted by Molly DiBianca On July 29, 2010 In: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) , Resources

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Employers are affected by the health-care legislation, also known as the Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act, in numerous ways. One of the lesser-known parts of the Act is Section 4207, which amends the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  Section 4207, also called Reasonable Breaks for Nursing Mothers, requires employers to provide nursing mothers reasonable breaks to express breast milk and a separate room where they can take the break for up to the first year after the child’s birth. (See FLSA Now Requires Breastfeeding Breaks and a Place to Take Them).  baby bottle

The law took effect in March but employers have been without any guidance on what the law requires.  Until now, that is.  The Department of Labor has issued an official fact sheet providing some guidance on the specific requirements under the law.  Fact Sheet #73 offers the following guidance:

Who Is Eligible for Breaks

Only non-exempt employees are affected by the law.

Frequency and Duration of Breaks

Breaks must be provided “as frequently as needed by the nursing mother.”  The frequency of breaks and the length of each break “will likely vary.”

Location of Breaks

The Fact Sheet makes clear that a bathroom, even if private, is not considered a suitable location for nursing mothers to express milk.  The Fact Sheet states that, “[i]f the space is not dedicated to the nursing mother’s use, it must be available when needed in order to meet the statutory requirement.  A space temporarily created or converted into a space for expressing milk or made available when needed by the nursing mother is sufficient provided that the space is shielded from view, and free from any intrusion from co-workers and the public.”

Exceptions to the Rule

Employers with less than 50 employees are not subject to the rule if it would impose an undue hardship. “Hardship” is relative, compared to the employer’s size and financial resources.

Click here to read the entire Fact Sheet #73 (PDF)

Still No GINA Regs, But New Website on the Basics

Posted by Adria B. Martinelli On June 25, 2010 In: Genetic Information (GINA) , Resources

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Employers and human-resource professionals have been anxiously awaiting the issuance of the final rules interpreting Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). We remain hopeful the regulations will address some thorny issues, such as the implications of employers’ use of internet and social media sites, which may in turn reveal the genetic information of an employee or applicant.

Looks like we shouldn’t hold our collective breaths for the final answer. Deadline after deadline set by the EEOC for its publication of the regulations for Title II of the Act, which applies to employers, has come and gone. Most recently, the EEOC’s Spring 2010 Agency Rule List indicated that GINA regulations were in the Final Rule stage and were expected to be finalized in May. May has come and gone and still no regulations.

In the meantime in GINA news, a new website, http://www.ginahelp.org/ has been created by the Genetic Alliance, the Genetics and Public Policy Center at the Johns Hopkins University, and the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics through funding by The Pew Charitable Trusts. This online resource on the GINA and its protections in health insurance and employment includes answers to common questions about GINA and hypothetical examples.

The information is fairly basic, but could serve as a helpful resource for those trying to get quickly up to speed on the fundamentals of GINA.

New Online Resource for Employment Laws from U.S. DOL

Posted by Molly DiBianca On April 26, 2010 In: Resources

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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), offers a resource called eLaws Advisors, to help employers and employees understand the many federal employment laws.  The website is actually more of an interactive tool that guides users through a series of question to provide specific information relevant to their particular circumstances.  There are eLaws Advisors on wage and overtime issues, workplace poster requirements, health benefits, federal contractor compliance, and other topics. 

Workplace Prof Blog’s List of the Best Labor & Employment Blawgs

Posted by Molly DiBianca On March 22, 2010 In: Resources

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My mother always told me that it’s never too late to say “thank you.”  With that excellent advice in mind, I’ll thank the fine authors of the Workplace Prof Blog, who included Delaware Employment Law Blog on its list of its readers’ favorite employment law blogs.  This is high praise from one of the very best employment law blogs in the legal blogosphere.  Be sure to check out the entire list, it’s just the place to update your blog reader.   You can also check out our Top 100 Employment Law Blogs.

Lexis-Nexis Brings Cases to the iPhone

Posted by Molly DiBianca On January 5, 2010 In: Resources , Tech Tips

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Thanks to iPhone J.D. for alerting us to this new app from Lexis Nexis.  Lawyers, you can now get your case law on the go.  According to iPhone J.D.,’s thorough review, the app doesn’t yet give us access to statutes (odd) but it is free, which is a good thing. 

Judge Tells Lawyer to Follow Guidelines and Start Preparing Better Documents

Posted by Molly DiBianca On December 27, 2009 In: PDFs , Resources

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I continue to be amazed by some of the less-than-best writing practices of my friends and colleagues.  Many of these practices relate to the ways in which they format documents. I recognize that many of these practices derive only from habit—not bad intentions.  But that doesn’t make them any less annoying.  And what makes them more annoying is the irrational devotion they garner. 

What are these habits, you ask?  Truth be told, there are too many to list here.  But there is good news—I am not alone.  There are others who feel strongly about the importance of documents done right. 

Minnesota bankrupcty court judge Robert Kressel is one such sympathizer.  Recently, he issued Order Preparation Guidelines for attorneys appearing before him.  The Guidelines spell out a variety of writing misdeeds that Judge Kressel wisely abhors. 

I have two thoughts about these Guidelines.  First, they offer terrific advice that everyone should follow.  Second, they demonstrate how helpful style guides can be and make me wish that there were more such guides in place—both in the judicial system and in the workplace.  

All of the guidelines are great, really.  But a few stand out for me.

The first guideline, for example, instructs parties to submit PDFs that have been converted directly from Word or WordPerfect—instead of by scanning printed paper copies.  Amen!  Why in the world anyone thinks it is somehow better to print a document and then hard scan that document to PDF positively escapes me.  Print to PDF, people.  Please, I beg you!  As Judge Kessler points out, it saves tremendously on the size of the PDF.  And it also provides a far better looking final document, as well as a searchable document.  A document that is printed to PDF (as opposed to scanned) can also accept comments made with commenting tools in Acrobat, such as highlighting and adding “sticky notes.”  (See my previous posts on the topic of PDFs for better documents for additional inspiration).

Judge Kessler also reminds lawyers to “limit the use of capital letters to proper names.”  I’ve discussed the “ALL-CAPS disease” before but it bears repeating.  For those of you who have held tight to this habit, please consider resolving to abandon it in the new year.  Words that are typed in all capital letters are very difficult to read.  For an excellent explanation of the phenomenon, see Robin Williams’ highly instructive and enlightening book, The PC Is Not a Typewriter

There are other resources for those who are open minded and ready to make some positive changes to their document-formatting habits.  Ms. Williams’ book is a fantastic place to start.  (The book is closer to a pamphlet than War and Peace and serves as an excellent desk reference.)  The Seventh Circuit has published an excellent and extensive set of guidelines for briefs (pdf).  One of the sources cited in the court’s guidelines is Ruth Anne Robbins’ journal article, Painting With Print (pdf), which is far more detailed and a truly outstanding scholarly work.  Finally, specific to the legal profession but applicable for all professions is Matthew Butterick’s blog, Typography for Lawyers

So, wonderful readers, go forth into the new year with standards set high and paragraph alignment set to Left (please, no more justified paragraphs!).  These are resolutions that, if kept, truly would help make the world a better place, one document at a time.

[Hat tip to the Lawyerist]

 

 

Judges Order Re Writing Mistakes in Court Filings

 

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Comments

Another reason (learned the hard way!) not to use all caps - Spell check does not work on all cap words.

3 Reasons to Proofread that Document One More Time

Posted by Molly DiBianca On November 6, 2009 In: Just for Fun , Resources

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I host a bi-monthly “lunch and learn” for the staff in my department; attendance is voluntary.  In advance of the meeting, attendees suggest and vote on the session’s topic.  Topics range from software-specific, like Adobe Acrobat or PowerPoint, to soft skills, such as time management, and just about anything else they find relevant and productive. At the most recent session, we had a mixed bag of topics but ended with a quick review of some grammar and usage “troubleshooting tips.”

This particular topic was at my suggestion and was urged not by anything I’d been seeing in their writing but more by the stories circulating the legal blogs over the last few weeks. Let me say that these stories are almost hard to believe, not because I have a hard time imagining legal writing that is just plain bad—trust me, that’s the easy part.  But I do have a hard time imagining the court that actually responds in the ways described in these stories. 

Part of me loves the idea of a court that takes legal citations very seriously and part of me cringes.  I mean, everyone makes mistakes.  I am hopeful that I don’t make the “mistakes” that the lawyers in the stories below made.  But everybody has bad days, right?

In any event, here are a few stories that scare me enough to review Garner’s The Redbook: A Manual of Legal Style, by Bryan A. Garner one more time before I file that brief.

 

#1:  Bad Writing Can Cause Public Humiliation

Although public humiliation may seem like the least terrifying of the three reasons listed here, it also seems like the worst.  It’s the most likely to happen; after all, what are the chances that your writing is going to get you tossed into jail?  It’s a bit difficult to imagine (thankfully).

But having a judge be so irritated by grammatical and typographical errors that he red pens the document and publishes it on the official court docket for all the world to see is much closer to reality, making it all the more horrifying.  A federal judge in Florida, apparently, was just that irritated over errors in an attorney’s brief.  The errors ranged from “excess spacing” to typos to incorrect capitalization to word choice.  Here’s one example, cited by the ABA Journal: “[the plaintiff] had attended on filing” this action, instead of saying the plaintiff had “intended” to file an action

 

#2:  Bad Writing Can Lead to Monetary Fine

The ABA Journal brings us a great story about a Wisconsin lawyer who was fined $100 for submitting a brief that contained an incorrect citation, which led the court on a wild goose chase to hunt down the case that should have been cited.  I’ll confess, this strikes me as nothing more than justice at work.  Erroneous case citations are enough to drive even the most even-tempered to the edge.

 

#3:  Bad Writing Can Result in Jail Time

Carl Smith, an attorney is Missouri was charged with criminal contempt and sentenced to 120 days in jail for language used in court filings.  In his papers, Smith said that certain events indicated a “personal interest, bias, and purported criminal conduct” by and between the judge, the prosecutor, and other court officials. The ACLU is one of several organizations that came to Smith’s defense, claiming that the punishment of an attorney based on his legal filings would have a chilling effect on free speech in the justice system. 

If these stories motivate you to polish up your writing skills, you can get a great start by checking out our post on the 10 Funniest Writing Blogs, 20 Online Dictionaries, and Top 30 Blogs on Writing.

Comments

Thanks for posting this nice blog. I am glad to know about your blog. This is very helpful and informative blog. I really appreciated it.

Top 100 Employment Law Blogs . . . plus 10

Posted by Molly DiBianca On November 4, 2009 In: Resources

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The Top 100 Employment Law Blogs is back and updated for 2009. Ok, so it’s the Top 110 this year. There were just too many great blogs that 100 wouldn’t do the trick. The list, of course, is totally subjective and based only on my personal opinion. One criteria that I did use this year, though, was a most-recent-post criteria. Blogs that hadn’t posted more recently than September weren’t eligible for the list. If you write a blog that addresses with employment-law issues and I’ve missed it, please let us know by posting a comment.

Adjunct Law Prof.

Affirmative Action Blog Spot

Aging Workforce News

Alabama Employment Law Report

Alabama HR Law

Alaska Employment Law

Arkansas Employment Law

Atlanta Employment Lawyer Blog

Boston Employment Lawyer

California Employer Bulletin

California Employment Law Report

California Workforce Resource Blog

Canadian Privacy Law Blog

Charles A. Krugel

Colorado Employment Law Blog

Colorado Non-Compete Law Blog

Connecticut Employment Law Blog

Constitutional Law Prof Blog

Current Employment

Defending the Digital Workplace

Doorey's Workplace Law Blog (Canada)

Drew Capuder's Employment Law Blog (W.Va.)

Diversity Insight

Daily Developments in EEO Law by Paul Mollica

EBG Trade Secrets & Noncompete Blog

ELI, Inc. Insights Blog

Employee Free Choice Act

Employee Handbooks

Employer Law Report (Porter Wright)

Employers Law Blog (Day Pitney)

Employment Law Bits (Bacon Wilson)

Employment Law Matters (Ogeltree Deakins)

Employment Law Watch (Reed Smith)

Employment Advisory

Employment Lawyer Blog (Joseph Herzeld)

Executive Counsel Blog

Fair Labor Standards Act Law

Fair Labor Standards Act (Beasley Allen)

Federal Sector FMLA Blog

First Amendment Law Prof Blog

Florida Employment Law Blog (Mark Addington)

Florida Employment & Immigration Law Blog

FMLA Law blog

George's Employment Blawg

Gruntled Employees

HR Bits

HR Briefcase

HR Counsel blog

HR Lawyer's Blog

HR Legal News

Human Rights in the Workplace (Canada)

Immigration Law for Employers

Iowa Employment Law Blog

Jottings By An Employment Lawyer

Juz the Fax

Labor & Employment Law Blog (Sheppard Mullin)

Labor Law Center

Lawffice Space

LawMemo Employment Law

Legal Developments in Non-Compete Agreements

Lisa Law View

Manpower Employment Law Blog

Maryland Employment Law

Maryland Employment Law Developments

Miami Employment Lawyer Blog

My Disability Blog

New Jersey Employment Law

New York Employment Lawyer Blog

Northern Exposure (CA)

New York Public Personnel Law

OFCCP Blog Spot

Ohio Employer's Law Blog

Overtime Law Blog

Pennsylvania Labor & Employment Law Blog

Privacy & Information Security Law Blog

Privacy Law Blog

Public Sector Law Blog

San Antonio Employment Law Blog

Storm's California Employment Law

Strategic HR Lawyer

Suits in the Workplace

Tennessee Employment Lawyer Blog

Texas Employment Law Update

Texas HR Law Update

Texas Non-Compete Law Blog

The FMLA Blog

The Laconic Law Blog

The Legal Intelligencer

The Word on Employment Law Blog

Thoughts from a Management Lawyer (CA)

Toronto Employment Law Blog

Trade Secret / Noncompete Blog (Foley Lardner)

Transgender Workplace Diversity

Trading Secrets

Virginia Non-Compete Law Blog

Wage & Hour Counsel

Wage & Hour Development & Highlights

Wage & Hour Defense Blog

Wage & Hour Law Update

Wage Law

Wait a Second! (2d Cir. Civil Rights)

Washington DC Employment Law Update

What's New in Employment Law

Womble Carlyle Non-Compete & Restrictive Covenants Blog

Work Matters

Workplace Privacy Counsel

Workplace Prof Blog

World of Work

Wyatt Employment Law Report

[Updated Nov. 13] Alterted by their comments and duly impressed with their sites, I'm going to add two more to the list--really, what difference will 2 more make, we've already got 110.

Social Networking Law Blog

Overtime Advisor

Comments

Many thanks, Molly. Your blog should, of course, be listed near the top.

John

John's comment is unintentionally hilarious -- "near the top?". Shouldn't she be able to put her own blog "at" the top? :)

But I concur wholeheartedly in John's sentiments. Many thanks for compiling the list and including the Connecticut law blog on it.

What a great resource! Thanks for sharing such a comprehensive list! Go ahead and put your own at the top! I appeciate you including the Florida Employment Law Blog as well.

Mark

Thanks for the nod! I appreciate you including Lawffice Space and will be sure to check out some of your other recommendations.

I have two more suggestions:

1. Cathie's Corner

http://www.legalworkplace.com/cathie's-corner-blog-nl.aspx

2. HR Soapbox
http://www.legalworkplace.com/hr-soapbox-blog-nl.aspx

Thanks!

My blog is relatively new, but we post frequently and always on employment law/HR issues. Check us out at www.warrenhays.com/category/warren-hays-blog/

Thanks for this list! Please add our blog at www.overtimeadvisor.com.

Thanks for mentioning the Texas Employment Law Update. I like the annual listing so I can update my Reader with any blogs I might have missed. Keep up the good work.

Great list! Thanks for including us.

Thanks for including World of Work Molly! This list is a great resource.

I will add another note of thanks. This is an excellent list - not (just) because you got the Trade Secret / Noncompete Blog on there (though, I do appreciate it!) - but because you clearly did a lot of work and a thorough and comprehensive review of the current blogs and pulled together an accurate list of the true top ones. Thanks for making it easy for the rest of us!

You forgot the fabulous labourlawstudents.org, run by students at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Canada.

Canadian HR Reporter, Canada's national journal of human resources management, has a number of employment-related blogs.

Of interest to this forum is the weekly employment law blog written by Jeffrey R. Smith, editor of Canadian Employment Law Today. You can access it on www.hrreporter.com.

Great site you have! Check out my new blog: www.socialnetworkinglawblog.com. I cover various legal issues relating to social media and Web 2.0, but primary focus is/will be implications in employment context (i.e., using social networks in recruiting, disciplining employees for online activity, drafting social media policies, etc.). Thanks!

Thanks so much for including the Manpower Employment Blawg -- I feel honored!

I'm flattered to be counted among this company - host blog included. Thanks for including CE in the list.

Hi Molly. I just happened upon your list and wanted to thank you for including my blog on it. The time it must have taken you to put this together! But, thank you -- as I've learned of some blogs I hadn't known about before!

Donna Seale (Human Rights in the Workplace)

Great list but you there are some dead links. Someone should have double checked to make sure that they were all viable first. Otherwise an excellent resource for any HR or Risk Management professional!

2nd year in a row for me! Thanks much all! I'm honored.

Brian:

You sure are right--there were about 6 links that had typos in them and, therefore, did not take you to those sites. And you're also right, someone (namely, me), should have checked each of the 110 links again after the post went up to make sure there weren't any errors. I apologize and I'll be sure that next year's list is triple checked for accuracy (hopefully, though, the 2d and 3d checks might be done by someone else--the first time is plenty of work as it is). Thanks for stopping by and for letting me know about the dead links. My apologies to those blogs whose links were wrong--I promise, it's no reflection on the greatness of any of them, just an inadvertent (read: lazy) error on my part.

Thanks for stopping by!

Best,

Molly

Thanks so much for the add! Much appreciated! Thank you for putting together this great resource.

This is a great list and resource for attorneys and employers alike. Thanks for including my Alabama Employment Law Report on your list.

Dan Burnick

A belated thanks for including us on the list of the 100 or 110 best employment law blogs. It is a great resource and we plan to use it extensively in the future.

I know its late, but can you add Bond, Schoeneck & King's blog at http://www.nylaborandemploymentlawreport.com/

Thanks.

In real world of employment good communications with the employer is essential for the health of any business. For the most part, however, it will continue to provide substantive labor law
and human resources content, as well as the attempt to draw employment lessons from current events and popular culture of the people.

Powerful Presentations: Links to Free Graphics

Posted by Molly DiBianca On October 12, 2009 In: Internet Resources , Resources , Seminars, Past

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I give a lot of presentations. And I take them seriously. Which may explain why my slides often get noticed as being “different” than many of the other presentations my clients see. I subscribe to the style of presenting advocated by Cliff Atkinson, known as Beyond Bullet PointsNancy Duarte and Garr Reynolds are two other visionaries in the field of visual communication who lead by example. In short, the principle theory behind my slide design is to present only one idea per slide and to present it with images instead of words.

And, while I could go on for many posts about the topic of effective presenting skills but I’ll save that for another day.  Instead, I’ll refrain from the evangelical sermon and, instead, offer a tiny bit of practical help.

One of the bigger stumbling blocks involved in this type of presenting is where to get the graphics you’ll use instead of words on your slides.  There really are an unlimited number of ways to create images for this purpose. 

image

Of course, you can simply purchase them from stock photo sites.  I use Shutterstock to buy images and buy a one-month subscription to save on the cost. 

You also can surf the web to find images.  Google Images works great for this and so does Bing’s image search. But beware of “borrowing” images—just because they’re available online does not mean that they’re publicly available.  You must determine if you're lawfully able to use the pictures that you find. Dave Paradi recently listed 10 excellent government sites that offer bunches of beautiful photographs for free!

One seriously underestimated tool is PowerPoint.  I use it constantly to create my own images—everything from simple stick-figure drawings to more substantial 3d graphics.  If you don’t believe that this is possible for mere mortals (i.e., non-designers), just have a look at the wonderfully instructive blog, Slides that Stick for some excellent tutorials.  You may be amazed!

One of the greatest resources, though, is right at your fingertips—or, even better, they are your fingertips!  Pick up a pen and start drawing. Don’t be “fancy”—really, it’s best if you just avoid even attempting anything that will look even close to “artistic.”  Just stick with the basics.  You’d be surprised at how well you can communicate using those same skills that you picked up as a toddler.  Need inspiration? Check out Dan Roam, who just won the World’s Best Presentation Contest at Slideshare.net—using, you guessed it, simple marker drawings! 

Delaware Code Now Available as an iPhone App

Posted by Molly DiBianca On October 12, 2009 In: Delaware Specific , Resources , Tech Tips

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Have you ever wanted to carry the entire Delaware code in your pocket? Have there been times you’d wished you’d had Title 19, Delaware’s labor statutes available when you’re not at your computer or near a law library?  Well, if you are the owner of an Apple iPhone, now you can.  The entire Delaware code is now available as an app via the iTunes store for just $19.95.  That’s insanely inexpensive compared to the price of the multi-volume book set you’d have to buy to get the Code in print.  The app gives users access to the full Code in a searchable format, making it easy to find that obscure cite in a flash.

Of course, law firms have been very reluctant to the adaptation of the iPhone, so many lawyers who have iPhones also have to lug around a Blackberry to check their work e-mails.  Still, a Blackberry is substantially less bulky than a couple of shelves worth of hard-bound legal books. Oh, what will technology give us lawyers next?

In case you’re not yet an iPhone user, you can always search the Delaware Code for free online, made available on the State of Delaware’s website.

Comments

$19.95 is insanely expensive for something that is free. You answer your own question, the Delaware Code is available free online, so you'd be foolish to buy it in print and you'd be foolish to buy an iPhone app for it. Just point your iPhone's browser to the Delaware website (like I just did) and read all the code you want for free.

U.S. Supreme Court Decisions Go Digital

Posted by Molly DiBianca On October 7, 2009 In: Internet Resources , Resources , Tech Tips , U.S. Supreme Court Decisions

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The U.S. Supreme Court has taken another step towards “digital enlightenment.” The Court’s website now includes links to pdf files containing the United States Reports, volumes 502 and later.  The U.S. Reports contain the final and official version of the Court’s decisions, typically three to five volumes per Term. Each volume is between 800 and 1,200 pages long, making each pdf file very large.  Large, but packed with valuable information, including, according the Court’s site:

In addition to all of the opinions issued during a particular period, a volume may contain a roster of Justices and Court officers during that period; an allotment of Justices by Federal Circuit; announcements of Justices' investitures and retirements; memorial proceedings for deceased Justices; a cumulative table of cases reported; orders in cases decided in summary fashion; reprints of amendments to the Supreme Court's Rules and the various sets of Federal Rules of Procedure; a topical index; and a statistical table summarizing case activity for the past three Court Terms.

For those who are familiar with Adobe’s Acrobat can create a tremendous resource for themselves by saving these files locally and creating an electronic index for super-quick searches later.  This appears to be yet another mile marker in the road to more easily accessible legal references.

Editing Is Writing

Posted by Molly DiBianca On August 26, 2009 In: Resources

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Yesterday, I posted my thoughts on typos in cover letters and resumes.  Although I am in the camp of thinkers who believe that resume mistakes are big red flags, I also believe that we are keepers of our own destinies. So, instead of complaining about the lack of proofreading and editing skills, I’ll point you to a great article on this very same topic.  Lisa A. Mazzie has an outstanding article, titled, Be Wise: Revise, posted at the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Lawyer.

The article includes a Sample Revision Checklist,which is on the simple side but an excellent way to make sure your writing hasn’t lost its focus—especially as that filing deadline approaches.  The checklist is a great reference for new associates starting this fall. 

[H/T to Legal Writing Prof Blog]

And if you really want to improve your writing skills, the blogosphere contains a jackpot of resources. Start with our list of The Top 30 Blogs on Writing.

Another Way to Find What You (HR Pros) Want Online

Posted by Molly DiBianca On June 11, 2009 In: Resources

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HR Superstar, John Ingham, (as in John Ingham's Strategic HCM Blog), has alerted his readers to another helpful search tool.  (In case you missed it, yesterday I posted about 3 new ways to search online).  And this tool is specific to Human Resource professionals.  As per his post, Halogen Software has a widget that enables users to search across not only Google and Bing, but also across a variety of HR blogs, as well.  First check out John's blog and then check out the new HR Search tool!

3 New Ways to Find What You Want Online

Posted by Molly DiBianca On June 10, 2009 In: Resources

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Technology can help to make us more productive. I’m a big fan of technology, so long as it’s free, integrates easily into my current set up, and requires no training to use! All easy requests, right?

As it turns out, there are three new options that actually fit that bill. Each of them are new ways to search the Internet. If you haven’t given them a whirl, you should give them a try. After all, who couldn’t use the efficiency boost? Here’s a quick rundown:

The first on the list is a brand new search option. Microsoft has introduced its new search engine, Bing, which Microsoft hopes will be in real competition with Google.

Google introduced a new feature of its own--Google Squared, which is the second item on my list of three. Whereas Google Search returns search results in a linear list, Google Squared returns search results in a matrix designed for comparison. Unlike Microsoft’s new option, Google Squared isn’t a brand-new option, but it is a new twist on a classic.

The third new search option is my favorite. Spezify is a visual search engine that searches not only the Internet but also returns results from Twitter and social-networking sites, such as Facebook and LinkedIn. It even returns images. And results are displayed in small, colored text boxes. Additionally, it displays what it’s determined are “related words” (i.e., related to your search terms). Pictured below are the results from a search for “harassment training.” Don’t know what to search for? Try your name and see what comes up. You may be surprised—especially what images are returned!

image

EEOC Issues Swine Flu Guidance for Employers

Posted by Molly DiBianca On May 12, 2009 In: Disabilities (ADA) , Resources

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Swine Flu is a concern for many employers right now. Employers want to provide employees with up-to-date information about the steps that can be taken to prevent the spread of the swine flu.  Employers also want to prevent the spread of panic where not warranted.  We posted previously with resources for employers. There is a new resource from the EEOC and it takes a different and important approach.  The EEOC's new guidance addresses how employers should manage ADA concerns as they may arise in the context of the swine flu. image

The fact sheet, ADA-Compliant Employer Preparedness For the H1N1 Flu Virus, raises some excellent points.  My favorite is an issue has already come up with several of my clients--what to do if you are concerned about an employee's exposure to the swine flu.  For example, an employee returns from a business trip to Mexico, where he's been for several weeks.  Can you require that he not return to work until he gets tested for the H1N1 flu virus?  Can you require him to work at home or telecommute until the issue can be resolved?  Here's what the EEOC has to say:
May an employer require entering employees to have a medical test post-offer to determine their exposure to the influenza virus?

Yes, in limited circumstances. The ADA permits an employer to require entering employees to undergo a medical examination after making a conditional offer of employment but before the individual starts work, if all entering employees in the same job category must undergo such an examination.

Example A:  An employer in the international shipping industry implements its pandemic influenza preparedness plan when the WHO and the CDC confirm that a new influenza virus, to which people are not immune, is infecting large numbers of people in multiple countries. Because the employer gives these medical tests post-offer to all entering employees in the same job categories, the examinations are ADA-compliant.

For additional resources, see: Information for Employers on the Swine Flu

My Top 5 of the 60 Sites in 60 Minutes from the ABA TechShow

Posted by Molly DiBianca On May 10, 2009 In: Resources

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A perennial favorite at the ABA TechShow is a one-hour segment titled, 60 Sites in 60 Minutes.  During the presentation, the speakers present 60 of the latest and greatest sites on the Internet.  There are sites dedicated to improving your legal practice and your productivity in general.  There are also some wacky websites that fit into the "just-for-fun" category. Despite the name, there are over 100 websites listed on the ABA Techshow's site.  The list included some of  my favorite sites that I use regularly.  Here are a few:

Staying Up to Date

1.  To keep tabs on all the best legal blogs, nothing beats Alltop (Law)Alltop has blog listings for nearly every topic under the sun, including topics of interest to employers, from Careers, to eLearning, to HR, to Corporate Responsibility, to Electronic Discovery.

2.  TechnoLawyer BlawgWorld Newsletter (www.technolawyer.com) is my favorite e-newsletter for keeping up to date with everything technology-related relevant to legal practice.

 Technology Tools

1.  File Genius (www.filegenius.com) enables users to transfer large files securely.

2.  SlideShare (www.slideshare.net) is an invaluable tool for anyone who presents to an audience.  For free, you can upload and share your PowerPoint presentations and Word documents and then share them, either by invite, or with the world at large.  Add audio and you've got an instant webinar.  It's also a great resource for inspiration when you've got presenters-block.

Marketing With Ease

Constant Contact (www.constantcontact.com) is an easy-to-use, subscription-based, e-mail marketing program.

Because Nothing Beats a Little Competition

Typeracer (www.typeracer.com) allows you to "race" online opponents in a battle of the keyboards.  A word of warning, typing as fast as you can type may be a little addictive for those with a competitive spirit. I raced three times and, each time, finished at 73 wpm.  Although I was pretty happy with the score, it's paltry when compared to some of the fastest keyists, who can type more than 160 wpm!

Information for Employers on the Swine Flu

Posted by Molly DiBianca On May 1, 2009 In: Resources

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Delaware has four confirmed cases of swine flu. Employers who operate near the University of Delaware, where the cases were reported, may get questions from concerned employees.  Even employers who do not operate in or around the Newark campus may see the wisdom in being proactive in helping their employees take measures to avoid the swine flu. The go-to web site for employers is PandemicFlu.gov, which provides the latest information from the U.S. government about the disease, where it has been reported, and how to plan and prepare.  image

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued a Swine Flu fact sheet directed towards parents and caregivers.  The fact sheet is a great starting point for reliable information that can be provided to employees about the swine flu.  The CDC has other helpful resources, as well, including a printable poster on Stopping the Spread of Germs at Work.  JAN, the Job Accommodation Network, also has published a fact sheet on the swine flu.  This one is designed to assist employers in considering the needs of disabilities during a pandemic flu outbreak. 

Employers may consider posting or circulating the fact sheets to employees and/or management in an effort to prepare for a possible pandemic. 

Comments

Great info, Molly, thanks. If your readers are interested, I posted our office building's detailed guidelines on protection and health tips on our blog: http://bit.ly/2dsMyG

Two New Resources for Employers on the Employment of Persons With Disabilities

Posted by Molly DiBianca On April 26, 2009 In: Disabilities (ADA) , Resources

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The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), has released two new resources on the employment of persons with disabilities. 

Comprehensive Reference for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities

To meet the need for a comprehensive, portable, and easy-to-understand guide for employers who are looking to recruit, hire, and retain employees with disabilities, ODEP just released its new Four-Step Reference Guide. The online version of this valuable resource covers topics such as Incentives & ROI, Recruiting, Interviewing & Hiring, and much more. And be sure not to miss the last three pages, which contain a wealth of links and other resources for employers.   Diversifying Your Workforce, A Four-Step Reference Guide to Recruiting, Hiring & Retaining Employees with Disabilities is available now online and will be available later this year in print.

Employers' Use of Accessible Technology to Improve Employment for People With Disabilities

The second resource is a follow up to last year's Roadmaps for Enhancing Employment of Persons with Disabilities Through Accessible Technology (Roadmaps I).  Roadmaps I affirmed current successful business policies and practices and identified new strategic policies and practices. The Roadmap for the business community identifies the actionable steps that can be taken by the business community to facilitate the widespread adoption of these policies and practices by businesses. Roadmaps I was released on January 31, 2008.

Roadmaps II provides an overview of federally funded accessible-technology (AT), programs; a summary of some of the barriers that affect the use of AT by individuals with disabilities; and recommendations to increase the employment of individuals with disabilities though AT. The report was launched in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the 2009 Annual Conference of AT-Act Programs on April 21.

Related resources:

Two New Employment-Outreach Programs from the ODEP

Honoring Veterans By Supporting Their Reemployment Efforts

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Top 100 Employment Law Blogs

Posted by Molly DiBianca On April 3, 2009 In: Resources

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Have an employment-law or workplace-law question?  You're just about guaranteed to find the answer here. Below are 100 of the best employment law blogs. Actually, 99 of them, with the 100th being a link to a prior post where I chose my 20 most favorite benefits-law blogs.  Alphabetical order. 3d businessmen at desk

 

  1. Affirmative Action Blog Spot
  2. Alaska Employment Law
  3. Boston Employment Lawyer Blog
  4. California Employment Law - Fight Harassment
  5. California Labor & Employment Law Blog
  6. California Labor and Employment Law
  7. California Workforce Resource Blog
  8. Canadian Employment Law
  9. Charles A. Krugel, Labor & Employment Law, HR Law
  10. Colorado Employment Law
  11. Compliance Training Blog (California)
  12. Connecticut Education Lawyer & Attorney
  13. Connecticut Employment Law Blog
  14. Daily Developments in EEO Law
  15. Delaware Business Litigation Report
  16. Delaware Employment Law Blog
  17. Discriminations
  18. Diversity Insight
  19. Doorey's Workplace Law Blog (Canada)
  20. Drama, Conflict, Despair & Victory at Work
  21. E-Legal Lawyer
  22. Employee Free Choice Act
  23. Employer Notes
  24. Employer's Law Blog
  25. Employer's Lawyer
  26. Employment & Labor Relations - Porter Wright
  27. Employment Advisory
  28. Employment Law @ Work Updater
  29. Employment Law Bits
  30. Employment Law Blog by Jill Pugh
  31. Employment Law Colorado
  32. Employment Privacy Law (Littler)
  33. Employment Rights Blog
  34. Fair Labor Standards Act Law
  35. Federal Sector FMLA Blog
  36. Florida Employment Law Blog
  37. Florida Special Needs Lawyer
  38. FMLA law
  39. George's Employment Blawg
  40. Georgia Employment Law Blog
  41. Greater Valley Forge HR Law Link
  42. Gruntled Employees
  43. HR Briefcase: Labor and Employment Law Blog
  44. HR Lawyer's Blog
  45. HR Legal News
  46. Human Rights in the Workplace
  47. Immigration Law for Employers
  48. Jottings By an Employer's Lawyer
  49. Juz the Fax
  50. Kentucky Employment Law Notes
  51. Labor & Employment Law Blog
  52. Labor & Employment Law Blog (Shepphard Mullin)
  53. Laconic Law Blog
  54. Lancaster Employment Law Blog (Pennsylvania)
  55. Lisa Law View
  56. Los Angeles Employment Lawyer Blog
  57. Manpower Employment Blawg
  58. Maryland Employment Law
  59. My Disability Blog
  60. National Whistleblower Legal Defense and Education Fund
  61. New Jersey Employment Lawyer & Attorney - Steinberg Law Offices
  62. New Jersey Fox Rothschild HIPPA
  63. New Jersey Fox Rothschild Wage and Hour
  64. New York Disability Lawyer & Attorney - Turley Redmond & Rosasco
  65. New York Employment Lawyer Blog
  66. New York Public Personnel Law
  67. Nolo's Employment Law Blog
  68. Northern Exposure (Canada)
  69. Northwest Labor and Employment
  70. OFFCP Blog Spot
  71. Ohio Employer's Law Blog
  72. Oregon Law and Employment Law
  73. Pennsylvania Employment Law Blog
  74. Pennsylvania Family Medical Leave Act
  75. Pennsylvania Labor & Employment
  76. Privacy (Proskauer Rose)
  77. Quirky Employment Law Questions
  78. Quitamhelp
  79. RFID Lawyer & Attorney
  80. Rush on Business (Iowa)
  81. Storm's California Employment Law
  82. Strategic HR Lawyer
  83. Suits in the Workplace
  84. Texas Non-Compete Law Blog
  85. Thoughts from a Management Lawyer
  86. Trading Secrets
  87. Transgender Workplace Diversity
  88. Virginia Non-Competes
  89. Wage & Hour - Development & Highlights
  90. Wage and Hour Lawyer & Attorney - Yezbak Law Offices
  91. Wage Law: California Wage & Hour Law Weblog
  92. Washington Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits Law Blog
  93. What's New in Employment Law?
  94. Whistleblower Law Blog
  95. Whistleblower Lawyer Blog
  96. Word on Employment Law
  97. Workplace Privacy Counsel
  98. Workplace Prof Blog
  99. WorkplaceHorizons
  100. Top 20 Employee Benefits Blogs

Comments

Thank you for the honor, Madam!
I've been a long-time mutual admirer of your fine blog. I've blogged about this post at CALaborLaw.com.

Thanks very much. You guys at DELB do great work.

This is a very impressive list. Thanks a lot for doing this (and for mentioning my little Canadian labour law blog)too.

Thanks for this great resource and for mentioning my blog. Keep up the great work.

Thanks for listing my blog!!! Much appreciated! Great work you're doing with DELB too!

Thanks for listing my blog!!! Much appreciated! Great work you're doing with DELB too!

We at HRBriefcase thank you for listing us! Great blog.

Excellent list. Thanks for putting it together.

Thanks for sharing such a great list of Employment Law Blogs. That's really a great source.

Thank you for honoring my not so humble blog on your top 100 list. The list is an excellent resource.

Nice blog . Thanks blogger

50 Best Blogs on Wellness, Women's Interests, and Work-Life Balance

Posted by Molly DiBianca On March 13, 2009 In: Resources , Wellness, Health, and Safety , Women In (and Out of) the Workplace , Women, Wellness, & Work-Life Balance

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Delaware Employment Law Blog is pleased to add the following 50 blogs to its "Best of" Blogroll.  The common premise among these blogs is the idea that well-rounded employees are happier employees and happier employees perform better for their employer, who, in turn, enjoys more success overall.  In other words--wellness and work-life balance are valuable principles, which should be considered high-ranking goals among employers.   man holding blog

Here's the list, alphabetically:

  1. About Working Moms
  2. Alliance for Work-Life Progress
  3. Business Week’s Working Parents Blog
  4. Chief Home Officer
  5. Corporate Voices
  6. Corporate Voices for Working Families
  7. Discovering Your Inner Samurai Blog
  8. FunnyBusiness
  9. Half Changed World
  10. How She Really Does It
  11. Hybrid Mom Insider
  12. Institute for Women’s Leadership
  13. Jugglezine
  14. Kathy Lingle's Work-Life Blog
  15. Moms Rising
  16. Motherlode
  17. Mothers Movement
  18. Newly Corporate
  19. On Balance
  20. Progressive States
  21. Sloan Network
  22. Sue Magazine
  23. The Anti 9-to-5 Guide
  24. The Juggle
  25. The Lattice Group
  26. The Women’s Initiative Blog
  27. The Work/Life Balancing Act
  28. The WorkLife Monitor
  29. Women for Hire
  30. Women on Business
  31. Women's Leadership Exchange Blog
  32. Women's Rights Employment Law Blog
  33. Work from Within
  34. Work+Life Fit, Inc
  35. Working Mother
  36. Work-Life and Human Capital Solutions
  37. WorkLife Law Blog
  38. World at Work
  39. YourOnRamp.com
  40. Christina's Considerations
  41. Corporate Wellness Quotes
  42. Employee Corporate Wellness Programs
  43. Employee Wellness USA
  44. Employee/Corporate Wellness Programs
  45. Meditation At Work Info
  46. My Meditation Coach: Improve your workforce!
  47. Wellergize
  48. Wellness Corporate Insights
  49. Wellness.com
  50. Workplace Wellness

Comments

Thank you for the kind words regarding About Working Moms! Several of these blogs are new to me; I look forward to exploring them.

Wow! Thanks for reading and appreciating my contributions to the topic! I look forward to learning more about your writings.

Thanks so much for making Corporate Wellness Insights a part of your list! I've enjoyed reading your posts, and I especially appreciate the opportunity to explore the other blogs you've listed. Much appreciated!

I'm flattered to be included in your list, and to be among such a stellar group of women. I know a number of these writers personally and appreciate the caliber of their wise commentary. I'm excited to read more of this blog. Thanks for opening me up to your writing, too!