Principles of Employment Law

by Smith, Peggy R.; Hodges, Ann C.; Stabile, Susan J.; Gely, Rafael

• ISBN13: 9780314168771
• ISBN10: 031416877X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-02-25
• Publisher: West Academic

Summary

West understands that, over time, teaching and learning methods change. Concise Hornbooks have been developed specifically to provide for the needs of today's law student. The series features concise analyses of basic areas of law by prominent legal scholars.

Table of Contents

Defining the Employment Relationship	p. 1
Who Is an Employee?	p. 1
The Employee Versus the Independent Contractor	p. 1
What Is at Stake?	p. 1
Determining a Worker's Status	p. 2
The Common Law Test	p. 4
The Economic Reality Test	p. 5
The Hybrid Test	p. 10
Critical Appraisals of the Employee/Independent Contractor Distinction	p. 11
Individuals Who Cannot Be Employed	p. 12
Children	p. 12
Undocumented Workers	p. 14
Who Is an Employer?	p. 16
The Employee/Employer Distinction	p. 16
Multiple Potential Employers	p. 18
Job Security	p. 20
The Employment-at-Will Doctrine	p. 21
Statutory Protections	p. 22
Common Law Protections	p. 23
Is Employment at Will the Default Rule?	p. 23
Contract Based Modifications to Employment at Will	p. 24
Express Contract Modifications	p. 24
Just-Cause Contracts	p. 24
Specific Duration Contracts	p. 27
What Is Just Cause?	p. 29
Implied Contract Modifications	p. 30
The Case of Employee Handbooks	p. 30
Legal Standard	p. 31
Disclaimers	p. 33
Handbook Modifications	p. 34
Implied-in-Fact Contracts	p. 36
Promissory Estoppel	p. 37
Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing	p. 38
Tort Based Modifications to Employment at Will	p. 40
Discharge in Violation of Public Policy	p. 40
What Is Public Policy?	p. 42
Public Versus Private Concerns	p. 44
Elements of a Successful Claim	p. 46
Activities Protected by the Tort	p. 47
Refusing to Engage in Illegal Conduct	p. 48
Performing a Public Obligation	p. 50
Exercising a Legal Right or Privilege	p. 50
Reporting a Statutory Violation	p. 52
Preclusion	p. 54
Exclusivity Concerns	p. 54
Preemption Concerns	p. 56
In-House Attorneys and the Tort of Wrongful Discharge	p. 57
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress	p. 60
Intentional Interference With Contractual Relations	p. 63
Reform Efforts and the at-Will Doctrine	p. 66
The Montana Wrongful Discharge From Employment Act	p. 67
The Model Employment Termination Act	p. 68
The American Law Institute's Proposed Restatement of the Law Third, Employment Law	p. 69
Privacy, Autonomy and Dignity in the Workplace	p. 71
Protections Regarding Speech and Association	p. 72
Constitutional Protection for Speech	p. 72
Constitutional Protection for Association	p. 78
Statutory Protection	p. 80
Private Sector Labor Law	p. 80
Public Sector Labor Laws	p. 83
Other State Laws	p. 84
Protection From Instrusive Employment Practices	p. 85
Background Investigations	p. 86
Interrogation	p. 94
Statutory Restrictions	p. 94
Constitutional Restrictions	p. 96
Searches	p. 97
Constitutional Limitations	p. 97
Protection From Intrusive Employment Practices-Continued
Invasion of Privacy and Other Tort Claims	p. 100
Statutory Restrictions	p. 101
Surveillance and Monitoring	p. 102
Constitutional Restrictions	p. 102
Invasion of Privacy and Other Tort Claims	p. 103
Statutory Restrictions	p. 105
A Duty to Monitor?	p. 106
Pre-Employment and Employment Testing	p. 106
Polygraph Examinations	p. 106
Honesty Tests	p. 108
Psychological and Personality Tests	p. 109
Medical Tests	p. 110
Genetic Testing	p. 111
Drug Testing	p. 113
Constitutional Restrictions	p. 114
Statutory Restrictions	p. 115
Common Law Claims	p. 116
Regulation of Off-Work Activity	p. 117
Constitutional Protections	p. 117
Common Law Claims	p. 118
Statutory Claims	p. 121
Contractual Claims	p. 123
Grooming and Dress Restrictions	p. 123
Constitutional Claims	p. 124
Statutory Causes of Action	p. 125
Negligent Hiring, Supervision and Retention	p. 128
Employee Obligations to Employers	p. 132
Implied Duty of Loyalty	p. 133
Soliciting Customers or Co-Workers	p. 134
Assisting a Competitor	p. 135
Remedies	p. 136
Trade Secrets	p. 136
Definition of Trade Secrets	p. 136
Misappropriation of Trade Secrets	p. 139
Employee Inventions	p. 141
The Shop Right Doctrine	p. 142
"Holdover" Provisions	p. 143
Statutory Protections	p. 144
Noncompetition Covenants	p. 145
Enforceability	p. 145
Remedies	p. 150
Noncompetition Agreements and Lawyers	p. 151
Mandated Terms and Conditions of Employment	p. 152
Wages and Hours	p. 152
Introduction	p. 152
Fair Labor Standards Act	p. 154
Overview	p. 154
Substantive Obligations	p. 154
Minimum Wage	p. 155
Overtime Pay	p. 156
Child Labor Restrictions	p. 156
Coverage	p. 157
The Employer-Employee Relationship	p. 157
Individual or Enterprise Coverage	p. 158
Exempt and Nonexempt Employees	p. 160
Implementation Problems	p. 164
Defining Compensable Time	p. 164
Determining the Base Rate	p. 166
Enforcement Issues	p. 168
Living Wage Ordinances	p. 170
State Wage Payments Laws	p. 171
Equal Pay Act	p. 173
Overview	p. 173
Elements of a Violation	p. 174
Employer's Defenses	p. 175
Remedies	p. 176
Family and Medical Leave Act	p. 177
Overview	p. 177
Typically Litigated Issues	p. 180
What is a Serious Health Condition?	p. 181
Notice Questions	p. 182
Employee's Reinstatement to the Same or Equivalent Position	p. 183
Employee Retirement Income Security Act	p. 184
Overview	p. 184
Coverage of ERISA	p. 185
What Is a Plan?	p. 186
Who Is an Employee?	p. 187
Reporting and Disclosure Obligations	p. 188
Pension Plans	p. 190
Types of Pension Plans	p. 190
Minimum Plan Design Features	p. 192
Employee Retirement Income Security Act-Continued
Code Limitations and Nondiscrimination Rules	p. 195
Plan Termination and Insurance	p. 196
Amendment of Pension Plans	p. 199
Welfare Plans	p. 199
Types of Welfare Benefit Plans	p. 200
Regulation of Health Plans	p. 201
Amendment of Welfare Plans	p. 203
Fiduciary Regulation	p. 204
Who Is a Fiduciary?	p. 204
Fiduciary Standards	p. 206
Prohibited Transactions	p. 208
Special Issues Regarding 401(k) Plans	p. 209
Enforcement	p. 210
Causes of Action Under ERISA	p. 210
Remedies	p. 211
Preemption	p. 212
Unemployment Compensation	p. 215
Overview of the Program	p. 215
Coverage	p. 215
Taxes	p. 216
Benefits	p. 217
Qualifying Requirements	p. 217
Amount of Benefits	p. 217
Duration of Benefits	p. 218
Disqualification for Benefits	p. 218
Administration	p. 219
Preclusion of Other Claims	p. 220
Eligibility	p. 220
Circumstances of Separation	p. 220
Voluntary Quit	p. 221
Termination	p. 222
Unemployment Resulting From a Labor Dispute	p. 224
Continuing Eligibility	p. 226
Critical Perspectives	p. 228
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act	p. 229
Coverage	p. 229
Notice Required	p. 230
Employer Defenses to the Failure to Give Required Notice	p. 230
Enforcement	p. 231
The Regulation of Workplace Health and Safety	p. 235
Workers' Compensation	p. 235
Overview	p. 235
The Exclusivity Principle	p. 237
Intentional Conduct	p. 238
The Dual Capacity & Dual Persona Doctrines	p. 239
Injuries and Occupational Diseases	p. 241
The Course of Employment	p. 244
The Personal Comfort Doctrine	p. 244
The Horseplay Rule	p. 245
Recreational and Social Events	p. 247
The Going and Coming Rule	p. 248
The Special Mission Exception	p. 249
Premise Line Exception	p. 249
Employer Conveyance Exception	p. 250
Travelling Employee Exception	p. 250
Arising Out of Employment	p. 251
Increased Risk Test	p. 252
Actual Risk Test	p. 252
Positional Risk Test	p. 253
The Statutory Defense of Willful Misconduct	p. 253
Occupational Safety and Health Act	p. 254
Coverage	p. 254
Procedural Overview	p. 255
Employer Duties	p. 257
Standards Promulgation	p. 258
Establishing a Violation of an OSHA Standard	p. 260
Specific Duty Clause Violation	p. 260
General Duty Clause Violation	p. 262
Employer Defenses	p. 264
Unpreventable Employee Misconduct	p. 265
Infeasibility	p. 265
Greater Hazard	p. 266
Employee Rights and Responsibilities	p. 266
Overview of Rights	p. 266
The Right To Be Free from Retaliation	p. 267
Employee Responsibilities	p. 268
Table of Cases	p. 271
Index	p. 297
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