Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Vetoes Minimum Wage Hike

A few months ago, readers might remember that I pointed out that the New Jersey Legislature had voted to approve a minimum wage hike in the state .  Under the approved legislation, the minimum wage rate would rise to $10.10/hour in the next year and at least $15/hour over the next five.  (The current minimum wage rate in the state is $8.38/hour).  In that article, I had noted that the bill was then going to go before Governor Chris Christie for his approval or veto. As I had suggested previously, I thought that the Governor would likely veto the bill based upon his prior actions and comments on similar legislation.  Well, a few days ago, Governor Christie did just that and vetoed the bill on the grounds that it "would trigger an escalation of wages that will make doing business in New Jersey unfathomable."  Pointing to the increase in hourly minimum wage rates, the Governor referred to the bill as a "really radical increase."  (It is interesting to c...
Post a Comment
Read more