Site Map - The Workplace

06/28/2009 - A federal appeals court has ruled that an injunction against a company accused of stealing trade secrets was inappropriate. The court determined that monetary damages were available for the plaintiffs if they prevailed in their claim.

06/28/2009 - Communicating with users and training them on data security policies was the most important measure for protecting information, according to a survey of European and North American security professionals. Find out how they rate their own companies.

05/27/2009 - Hotlines can help companies catch fraud but only if the program is properly set up and well publicized among staff and contractors.

05/27/2009 - An industry-driven program called e-RAILSAFE vets and credentials contract workers for railroad companies.

05/26/2009 - Drawing on firsthand experience and studies of after-action reports from disasters around the United States, the author examines lessons learned and presents some of the most effective disaster response practices companies have developed.

05/04/2009 - How security managers can protect the company’s intellectual property and contribute to the bottom line. (Web Exclusive)  

04/30/2009 - By being ready with the right information at the right time, you can become the person the boss turns to for advice and counsel.

04/29/2009 - Although conducting credit checks aren't illegal during the hiring process, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is concerned it could lead to discriminatory hiring practices. To provide guidance, the EEOC has published an online fact sheet to help employers steer clear of discrimination.

04/27/2009 - Knowing what data to search and what information to avoid is critical when vetting job candidates. Special care must be applied when using criminal databases compiled from public sources, for example. Other critical issues include the proper vetting of educational claims and the use of social networking sites.

04/07/2009 - Secretary of Defense Robert Gates wants to convert 11,000 private contractors to full-time government employees as part of his proposed budget for fiscal year 2010.

03/27/2009 - How to learn about the competition without crossing the line into industrial espionage.

03/24/2009 - A prospective employee filed a lawsuit against a California company, Longs Drug Stores, after he was asked to answer a question about drug convictions on a job application. The application asked whether the applicant had been convicted of a crime involving the use or possession of illegal drugs in the previous seven years. Under California law, it is illegal to ask about drug convictions that are more than two years old. However, a California appellate court ruled in favor of the defendant finding that a federal law, the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, preempts the state statute. (Rankin v. Longs Drug Stores California, Inc., California Court of Appeal, No. D052124, 2009)

03/24/2009 - A New Jersey appellate court has ruled that a single remark can be enough to create a hostile work environment. In the case, a supervisor called an employee a “stupid fag” after an argument. The court ruled that the employee may bring his case before a jury. (Kwiatkowski v. Merrill Lynch, New Jersey Court of Appeals, No. A-2270-06T1, 2008)