Lisa Guerin is the author or co-author of several Nolo books, including The Manager's Legal Handbook, Dealing with Problem Employees, The Essential Guide to Federal Employment Laws, The Essential Guide to Family & Medical Leave, Workplace Investigations, and Create Your Own Employee Handbook. Guerin has practiced employment law in government, public interest, and private practice, where she has represented clients at all levels of state and federal courts and in agency proceedings. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley School of Law.
Articles By Lisa Guerin
FMLA Basics: Ten Things Employees Should Know
The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was passed to help employees balance work and family obligations. The law requires employers to let employees take leave to care for family members or recover from a serious illness. But not every employer, employee, or need for leave is covered. This article explains ten things employees should know about this landmark law.
Can I Be Fired For Something I Posted on My Facebook Page?
With Facebook boasting 750 million users, and millions more using Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, and other social networking sites to post content, chances are good that many employees at any given company have a social media presence. You may consider your online posts to be personal -- put up for friends
Do I have to pay for a uniform bearing the company logo?
Question: I have worked for a large warehouse store for several years. Up until a few weeks ago, we had a dress code of khaki pants and blue polo shirts, all of which we had to pay for. We also have to wear security badges with our name and the company's logo; the company gives us these. But the company
Does my 12 weeks of FMLA leave renew at the beginning of each year?
Question: My spouse is having a baby at the end of October. I've asked for FMLA leave, and I want to take as much time off as I can. The company's HR director told me I can take 12 weeks off total, so I'll need to be back at work by the end of January. Is this correct? I thought the FMLA gives me the
What to Do If You're Facing Discrimination in the Workplace
What to do if you are being discriminated against or harassed at work.
Undue Hardship: An Employer's Defense to a Reasonable Accommodation Claim
The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employment discrimination against applicants and employees with disabilities. It also requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees with disabilities to do their jobs, unless doing so would create undue hardship.
Can my employer withhold from my paycheck for a payroll error?
Question: My California employer recently switched payroll companies, and they made a big mistake on all of the paychecks. For a couple of payroll periods, they paid all of us for an extra ten hours of work, which resulted in a pre-tax overpayment to me of about $500. The company just told all of us
Can I be fired for filing a discrimination charge with the EEOC?
Question: I have been passed over for promotion at my job twice in the last few years. I think it's because I'm a woman. Both times, a man with less seniority and experience than me got the position, and my manager couldn't explain why I wasn't selected. I spoke to the HR department about my concerns;
Do I have to take a potential employer's drug test?
Question I'm applying to a temp agency for secretarial/administrative work, and I just found out they want me to take a drug test. I take Adderall for my attention deficit disorder (ADD). I've been taking it only as prescribed by my doctor, and it has really been a wonder drug for me. But will it show up on my drug test?
My doctor said I need light duty; does my employer have to provide it?
Question: I work in a warehouse. Part of my job is doing scheduling, tracking shipments, and so on at a computer terminal; part of my job involves physically lifting and moving products. I'm pregnant, and my doctor has said I shouldn't lift more than 20 pounds. My company has several "light duty" positions,