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What I've Been Reading This Week


A few days ago, I was talking to a regular reader of the blog about some controversial comments that were made by a Utah Republican official in regard to equal pay.  I was going to lead this post with that article but thought a more light hearted note about puppy parental leave would be a good change of pace.  To say puppy parental leave is somewhat of a ground breaking concept would be an understatement.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


Scottish Brewer Introduces Puppy Paternity Leave

I have heard of parental leave.  I have heard of maternity leave.  But 'puppy' paternity leave is a new one.  With that being said, this is a great article on a Scottish brewer that is opening a location in Ohio and has decided to offer its employees a week of leave to take care of a new puppy.  As the article notes, this leave policy is apparently the first in the industry (or any industry that I can recall).  Not a bad perk to work for this brewer, right?   I wonder if they are hiring...?


Utah Republican Official Resigns After Controversial Equal Pay Comments

Josh Hafner at USA Today wrote an article earlier this week with an update on James Green, former vice chair of the Wasatch County GOP, who made controversial statements in regard to equal pay.  In a letter written by Green which was published in a local newspaper, Green said men make more in the workplace because they are the primary breadwinners and by making more, women could stay at home and nurture their children.  Green went on to state that equal pay requirements would force women out of the home (where they likely preferred to be) to join the workforce.  Needless to say, these comments raised a firestorm of criticism and forced Green to step down.  The article has a good overview of how things played out after Green's letter was published.

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What I've Been Reading This Week

Recently, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Commissioner, Chai Feldblum, had her re-nomination on the brink, after Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee took steps to block it .  Readers might have heard that late last week, Commissioner Feldblum's re-nomination quietly slipped away and she tweeted out a thank you to supporters and friends, acknowledging that her time at the EEOC was over.  While there has not been much in the way of a further update in regard to that ongoing saga, we wait to see how things will play out at the EEOC, now that it has lost a quorum until additional Commissioners are confirmed by the Senate. For the time being, there are other developments for readers to review this week.  In particular, I call attention to the article on managing a wage & hour audit by the Department of Labor as well as steps an employer can take to better ensure compliance with the ADA. As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week. ...