HR Advisor Archive

MRSC In Focus › HR Advisor Archive

MRSC has joined with Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, Mark Busto, Attorney, Sebris Busto James, Eric Svaren, Principal, Groupsmith, Inc., and Cabot Dow, Labor Relations Advisor, Cabot Dow Associates to bring you the "HR Advisor" article series on employment and labor law issues affecting Washington local governments. The "HR Advisor" will feature a new article each month with timely HR management information and advice you can use.* This page contains the current and all previous HR Advisor articles:

Social Media in Hiring: Minimizing Legal Risks, By Sofia D'Almeida Mabee, Employment Attorney, Summit Law Group, February 2012
Negotiate a Labor Contract and Repair Relationships at the Same Time, By Eric Svaren, Principal, Groupsmith, Inc., December 2011
Labor Relations Policy Development - The New Balance - Smaller Concessions, By Cabot Dow, Labor Relations Advisor, Cabot Dow Associates, September 2011
Reefer Madness: What Employers Need to Know About Medical Marijuana and Drug Testing Under Washington Law, By Brian M. Flock and M. Edward Taylor, Sebris Busto James, July 2011
Elected Officials Can be Subject to Recall for Violating Employment Laws, By Sofia D'Almeida Mabee, Employment Attorney, Summit Law Group, June 2011
U.S. Department of Labor Emphasizes Enforcement of Fair Labor Standards Act Classifications: Are Your Employees Correctly Classified?, Jennifer A. Parda, Attorney, Sebris Busto James, April 2011
Dangerous Decisions, By Eric Svaren, Principal, Groupsmith, Inc., February 2011
PERC’S New Decision on Weingarten Rights, By Sofia D'Almeida Mabee, Employment Attorney, Summit Law Group, January 2011
Circuit Decision Reminds Employers of Need to Promptly and Effectively Address Complaints of Workplace Harassment, By Marck Busto, Brian M. Flock and M. Edward Taylor, Sebris Busto James, October 2010
When Emotions Run High, By Eric Svaren, Principal, Groupsmith, Inc., July 2010
PERC Confirms that Employers Must Bargain Both the Decision and Effects of Budget-Related Furloughs, By Kristin D. Anger, Summit Law Group, June 2010
Electronic Communications and Social Media: Managing Employer Risks with Clear Policies, By Mark Busto, Sebris Busto James, March 2010
When Conflict is Good (and when it’s not), By Eric Svaren, Principal, Groupsmith, Inc., January 2010
New Changes to the Family Medical Leave Act: Further Expansion of Military Leave Entitlements, By Sofia D'Almeida Mabee, Employment Attorney, Summit Law Group, PLLC, November 2009
Indergard v. Georgia-Pacific: Drawing the Line Between Physical Fitness Tests and Medical Examinations Prohibited by the ADA, By Mark Busto, Sebris Busto James, October 2009
Registered Domestic Partnerships: What Employers Need to Know, By Sofia D'Almeida Mabee, Employment Attorney, Summit Law Group, PLLC, August 2009
The Latest in Retaliation Law: The Supreme Court Confirms The Breadth of Employee Protected Activity, Mark Busto, Sebris Busto James, June 2009
Recent Legal Changes Add to Employees’ Rights and Benefits in a Reduction-in-Force – and to Employers’ Obligations, Shannon E. Phillips, Summit Law Group, April 2009
Attracting and Retaining Generation Ys in Public Service – Part 2, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, February 2009
New Domestic Violence Leave Expands Washington Employees' Right to Time Off, Mark Busto, Sebris Busto James, September 2008
New Federal and State Laws Affect Employers’ Leave Obligations for Military Personnel and their Families, Kristin D. Anger and Shannon E. Phillips, Summit Law Group, May 2008
Attracting and Retaining Generation Ys in Public Service – Part 1, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, April 2008
Ringing in the New? Pregnancy Discrimination and Pregnancy-Related Leaves, Mark Busto, Evan Chinn and Jillian Barron, Sebris Busto James, January 2008
Has Commuting With a Company Car Become “Work” Time?, Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney, and Elizabeth Kennar, Employment/Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, December 2007
Engineering Success for the Productive Employee, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, November 2007
Anger Tools, Rhonda Hilyer, Agreement Dynamics, June 2007
Recent Legislative Changes to Disability Law and The Use of Employee Credit Reports, Mark Busto, Evan Chinn and Jillian Barron, Sebris Busto James, May 2007
Are Your Workers Misclassified?, Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney, and Elizabeth Kennar, Employment/Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, April 2007
Managing Change Effectively In the Workplace - Part 2, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, March 2007
Transforming Labor Relations, Rhonda Hilyer, Agreement Dynamics, December 2006
Managing Change Effectively In the Workplace - Part 1, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, October 2006
Surprise Decision: Washington Supreme Court Narrows Definition of Disability Under State Law, John Chun, Employment/Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, August 2006
It's Time to have a Conversation about Ethics, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, June 2006
Highly Effective Coaching Techniques, Rhonda Hilyer, Agreement Dynamics, May 2006
Make Sure Your Agency Is In Compliance with New Payroll Deduction Rules, Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, April 2006
Staff Meetings - Friend or Foe?, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, February 2006
Can This Supervisor and This Team Be Saved?, Rhonda Hilyer, Agreement Dynamics, January 2006
Paramedics and EMS Personnel: Do They Meet the Fair Labor Standards Act 7(k) Exemption?, Denise L. Ashbaugh, Employment/Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, November 2005
Leadership Style Makes a Difference, Rhonda Hilyer, Agreement Dynamics, October 2005
Bullying in the Workplace, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, September 2005
Is it Safe to Provide a Job Reference?, Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney, and Elizabeth Kennar, Employment/Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, August 2005
From Whining to Winning, Rhonda Hilyer, Agreement Dynamics, Inc., June 2005
What to do about Gossip in the Workplace?, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, May 2005
Investigating Unlawful Activity: What You Need to Know About the Garrity Rule , Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney, and Rod Younker, Employment / Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, March 2005
When People Complain About "Communications", Rhonda Hilyer, Agreement Dynamics, February 2005
Employee Performance Evaluations, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, January 2005
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Weingarten Rights, Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney, and Kristin Anger, Employment / Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, December 2004
Getting a Grip on Grievances, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, September 2004
New FLSA White Collar Exemption Regulations: More Hype than Substance?, Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, August 2004
Taking the Mystery Out of Loudermill Meetings, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, June 2004
PUBLIC EMPLOYER ALERT: Federal Court Holds That Employees May Have Right To Pre-Disciplinary "Name-Clearing" Hearing, Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney, and Kristin Anger, Employment / Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, May 2004
Strategies for Preventing Workplace Violence, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, March 2004
Handling Medical Premium Increases Without Running Afoul of Contract and Bargaining Obligations, Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney, and Kristin Anger, Employment / Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, February 2004
Preventing Retaliatory Behavior, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, January 2004
Avoid These Wage and Hour Tripwires, Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney, and Kristin Anger, Employment / Litigation Attorney, Summit Law Group, December 2003
Making the Most of the Hiring Process, Janice Corbin and Janet May, Sound Employment Solutions, LLC, November 2003
How to Respond To a Request for Personnel Records Under the Public Disclosure Act, Bruce Schroeder, Employment/Litigation Attorney Summit Law Group, September 2003

Bruce Schroeder is an employment / litigation attorney with Summit Law Group, Seattle. Bruce's practice is concentrated on representing management in the entire range of employment law matters. More.

Mark Busto, Attorney with Sebris Busto James, Bellevue, is a seasoned employment law counselor and litigator with a strong professional background in labor-management relations. He has represented employers in discrimination cases before judges and juries in both state and federal court and has arbitrated many labor and employment matters. More.

Eric Svaren, Principal, Groupsmith, Inc., specializes in helping leaders and teams get traction—by facilitating change, clarifying strategy, strengthening trust, and improving communication. He helps individuals, teams and entire enterprises achieve breakthrough results. Eric is particularly known for his intensive intervention with teams, as well as his facilitation of high-stakes conflict situations, including multiparty mediation and labor contract bargaining. More.

Cabot Dow is President of Cabot Dow Associates, Inc. He offers more than 25 years of experience representing public and private sector clients in the full spectrum of collective bargaining matters, including negotiations, mediation and arbitration proceedings. Prior to entering the labor relations consulting field in 1975, he was the Assistant City Manager and Labor Relations Director for the City of Bellevue, Washington. More.

*The Articles appearing in the "HR Advisor" column represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Municipal Research & Services Center.