Category: Employment Law
Attorney Dave Schaps Volunteers at Student Mock Arbitration
December 16, 2015 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.On Saturday, December 12, Associate Attorney Dave Schaps performed the role of Arbitrator at the Hamline University’s Center for Public Administration and Leadership graduate level Arbitration class, which was conducted by Professor Craig Waldron. Dave arbitrated the class’s final project, which involved a mock employment grievance dispute between a City and a police officer held in accordance with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. The class of approximately 25 students came extremely prepared to serve in the various roles of giving witness testimony and conducting direct and cross examination, which contributed greatly to the learning experience in the class. Dave’s role was to conduct and moderate the course of the arbitration, and to deliver a decision at the conclusion of the proceedings. In the end, the decision to administer discipline by the City was sustained, but was reduced from a termination of employment to a one week suspension without pay. The students all appreciated the opportunity to learn through the mock arbitration and Dave Schaps’ guidance as Arbitrator as well as the debriefing after the actual arbitration presentation.
Read MoreFall in Galina, Illinois
October 27, 2015 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.BGS Labor and Employment shareholder Scott Lepak spent Sunday, October 25 in Galina, Illinois as an instructor for the National Public Employers Labor Relations Association at its Labor Relations Academy. Participants in this Academy are working toward becoming Certified Labor Relations Professionals. Scott is a regular instructor for this program and is happy to share his 25+ years of experience as a chief labor negotiator with up and coming labor negotiators. Participants always get a kick out of the fact that Scott started doing labor negotiations when people would smoke at the negotiations table and shout at each other (well actually there still is some shouting once in a while in negotiations). Scott says that this academy is one of his favorites because fall colors in Galina are spectacular and Galina is a great place to spend time in all of the local establishments. BGS is particularly happy to have had Scott at this conference because he brought back Apple Cider donuts.
Read MoreMinnesota's New Wage Disclosure Law: What Employers Should Know
May 22, 2015 | Bradley KletscherEmployers should be aware of Minnesota’s new wage disclosure law. The question sometimes arises whether an employer can require their employees not to discuss their wages with other employees. Minnesota now has a law that provides that an employer cannot require an employee not to disclose their wages. The new law codified at Minn.Stat. 181.172 provides in part: “(a) An employer shall not: (1) require nondisclosure by an employee of his or her wages as a condition of employment; (2) require an employee to sign a waiver or other document which purports to deny an employee the right to disclose the employee’s wages; or (3) take any adverse employment action against an employee for disclosing the employee’s own wages or discussing another employee’s wages which have been disclosed voluntarily. . . . (c) An employer that provides an employee handbook to its employees must include in the handbook notice of employee rights and remedies under this section. (d) An employer may not retaliate against an employee for asserting rights or remedies under this section.” Minn.Stat. 181.172 (2014). One important element of this new employment law is the requirement that if an employer provides an employee handbook, the employer must include in the handbook a notice of the employee’s rights and remedies under Minn.Stat….
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