New Zealand: Disclosure order for employee's Facebook, bank account – an outrage or fair play?

Download: 2013 PUB BC Disclosure order for Facebook bank account – an outrage or fair play – 15 AUGUST.pdf

Despite the excitable reaction from Tech Liberty, the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) was acting well within its powers when it ordered an employee to hand over her Facebook pages and bank accounts for the period in dispute1.

Rather unremarkable, really. Certainly not an unwarranted invasion of the employee’s privacy.
The background
The employee concerned, Gina, was dismissed after she took […]

By | August 20th, 2013 ||

United Kingdom: Matching Share Plan (MSP)

In these turbulent times, the Smith & Williamson Matching Share Plan is more attractive than ever to employers and employees alike. A share incentive which does not feel like value for money will not do its job. The tax charges associated with a share award are a key part of this, with the 45% tax rate for additional rate taxpayers.

It is common to reward employees with shares and to attach forfeiture conditions which will […]

By | August 20th, 2013 ||

"Morbidly Obese" Employee Held Disabled By Kentucky High Court

At five feet four inches, four hundred twenty-five pounds, a food truck employee at Wagner’s in Kentucky was morbidly obese and suffered from diabetes.  She was fired due to her “personal appearance” –  two of her coworkers testified that she told them that she was informed that she was fired because she was “overweight and dirty.”  She sued  for disability discrimination under Kentucky’s version of the ADA, and after being thrown out of court on a […]

By | August 14th, 2013 ||