| Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 |
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| In 1988, Congress passed the Employee Polygraph Protection Act to prevent employers from subjecting applicants and employees to lie detector or polygraph tests. Under the Act, the term "lie detector" includes a: More... |
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| Disability Insurance |
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| Disability insurance is designed to provide income to a covered employee in the event that the employee is unable to work because of illness or injury. Some states sponsor disability insurance programs; however, state programs typically provide benefits that represent only a fraction of a worker's salary. In addition, the period during which disability benefits can be received is limited, after which a disabled employee will have to rely on an employer-sponsored disability program or an individual disability insurance policy. More... |
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| The National Mediation Board |
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| In 1926, Congress passed the Railway Labor Act (RLA) to govern the resolution of disputes within the railroad industry. The RLA was amended in 1934, and the National Mediation Board (NMB) was created. In 1936, the jurisdiction of the RLA was expanded to include the airline industry. The NMB is an independent federal agency tasked with enforcing and interpreting the RLA. This article summarizes the major functions of the NMB. More... |
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| Invasion of Privacy |
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| Employees may not have privacy rights in email sent on company-owned equipment even if the company makes assurances that all email communications are confidential and privileged. A wrongful discharge case against a Pennsylvania company that made such assurances was recently dismissed after an employee made inappropriate and unprofessional comments to his supervisor. The court found that an employee could have no expectation of privacy in communications made on a company email system to his supervisor. More... |
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| Employee Benefit Plans |
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| The Employee Retirement Income Act of 1974 ERISA is a federal statute that dictates how employee benefit plans provided by private employers are administered. ERISA rules do not ordinarily allow pension assets to be assigned or alienated; however, one major exception applies when a pension plan participant becomes separated and divorced. In such a case, pension assets may be subject to a property division under a court order or court approval of a settlement agreement.
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