Report: Indiana too quick to clear Amazon in worker’s death
Indiana’s safety agency prematurely released Amazon from citations and fines in the death of a warehouse employee who was crushed by a forklift, a federal investigation has found.
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Court questions archdiocese’s authority to terminate gay teacher
Marion Superior Court has denied a motion filed by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a gay former Cathedral High School teacher, finding the archdiocese may not be the “highest ecclesiastical authority.”
Trump signs $484 billion measure to aid employers, hospitals
President Donald Trump signed a $484 billion bill Friday to aid employers and hospitals under stress from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 50,000 Americans and devastated broad swaths of the economy.
Sizing up Trump’s green-card halt: Is it just temporary?
President Donald Trump says a suspension of green cards is necessary at a time when unemployment has climbed to levels last seen during the Great Depression. But critics dismissed the move as the president’s veiled attempt to achieve cuts to legal immigration and to distract voters from his handling of the pandemic.
Logansport meat plant closing due to coronavirus
Tyson Foods Inc. announced Wednesday that it will temporarily close its meatpacking plant in Logansport in north-central Indiana after 146 employees tested positive for coronavirus.
7th Circuit: Hostile work environment claim forfeited in military discrimination case
A former South Bend police officer who sued the city alleging unlawful discrimination based on his military status did not sway a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Friday that affirmed a ruling against him.
Essential or non-essential? Lawyers scrambling to provide COVID-19 guidance
Though they don’t have all the answers, legal professionals are being looked to for guidance as clients navigate their new realities.
Injured wood trimmer operator loses appeal against manufacturer
A Southern Indiana machinery worker’s failure to follow warnings and instructions on a woodcutting machine he was using were the cause of injuries he sustained on the job, the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded on Monday. As such, the machinery’s manufacturer couldn’t have reasonably expected the accident.
Allen County Bar preparing for uptick in need
On a typical Tuesday, the Allen County Bar Association’s legal help line gets 40 to 60 calls, but the organization is bracing for an increase as the coronavirus crisis worsens.
Justices rule for federal employee over age discrimination
Well, OK, boomer. The Supreme Court made it easier Monday for federal employees 40 and older to sue for age discrimination. The ruling set a lower bar for public sector workers compared with those in the private sector.
Justices clash but rule for fired employee in duty-to-testify case
Indiana Supreme Court justices split Tuesday a dispute involving an employee who was fired after testifying at an unemployment compensation hearing, with the majority reversing in his favor. A dissenting justice would have affirmed, arguing the man didn’t have a reasonable belief of a duty to cooperate with an unissued, non-existent subpoena.
Bankovich and Pauli: COVID-19 FAQs for businesses, employers, organizations
During this period of uncertainty and rapidly evolving information, it is important for businesses, organizations and employers to stay up to date. Below are some frequently asked questions and answers with links to resources.
7th Circuit reinstates sex discrimination case against Valpo Schools in coaching dispute
A would-be high school running coach who says she was passed over for a coaching job in favor of younger male applicants will be able to make her claim for sex discrimination in court after a majority of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed summary judgment for Valparaiso Community Schools.
Bankovich and Bowling: Indiana’s marijuana laws keep things simple for employers, for now
Notwithstanding the national trend of states repealing statutes that criminalized possession of marijuana, Indiana remains steadfast in its prohibition of marijuana. While opinions obviously vary a great deal as to the wisdom of that prohibition, this continuing prohibition does, for the time being, hold at bay some of the thornier issues that can arise for employers regarding employee use of marijuana.
Townsend: Can employers withhold, claw back bonuses, commissions?
Employers must know the type of payments that can legally be withheld or pulled back, recognize that payments may become so vested that they are beyond retrieval, and understand lawful techniques to withhold or recoup funds when warranted.
Sizable nondisability: 7th Circuit declines to find ADA violations in obese workers’ claims
Despite increasing obesity among Americans, employers have not seen a corresponding rise in workplace discrimination complaints. But attorneys suspect workers are opting not to sue because such cases may be difficult to prove.
Trucker awarded nearly $900K after Lawrenceburg post office fall
The United States government has been ordered to pay nearly $900,000 to a disabled truck driver who suffered brain and spinal injuries after a fall at an Indiana post office.
Fired Cathedral teacher, archdiocese set to meet in court
After a settlement conference was unsuccessful, oral arguments have been rescheduled for Tuesday in the case involving the former teacher at Cathedral Catholic High School in Indianapolis who was fired for being in a same-sex marriage.
Indiana lawmakers back dropping tests in teacher evaluations
Indiana legislators have voted to end the mandatory use of student standardized test results in teacher evaluations, dropping a requirement long opposed by teachers.
DTCI: Indiana Employers, Out of State Employees, and Legal Marijuana Use
Currently, Indiana employers must cautiously navigate a maze of different marijuana laws affecting their employees working across state lines. This is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.