What do the U.S., Lesotho, Swaziland, and Papua New Guinea have in common? Here’s a hint: it relates to my last post on the Family Medical Leave Act. Stumped? Those four countries are the only ones that do not mandate some form of paid leave for new parents. Happy mother’s day! ...
What Is Family Medical Leave Or Fmla Leave?
The Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) is a federal law that requires certain employers to give unpaid leave to employees who are experiencing certain family or medical issues. This post will address some common questions about FMLA and its usage. FMLA applies to all public employers (including state and local governments and schools), but only applies to private employers who employ approximately 50 or more employees. Thus, mom and pop shops aren’t subject to FMLA. The rationale here ...
What Does “At Will” Employment Really Mean?
Most folks in Idaho know that generally employees are hired under the “at will” employment rule. Theoretically, this means that an employer can fire someone for (the cliche) “good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all.” It also means that the employee can quit at any time and for any reason. However, lots of people misunderstand how this rule actually plays out in practice. Employers can run into many problems by cavalierly firing employees on the assumption that they are “at will.” And ...
