Legal - HospitalityLawyer.com®

Protecting Privacy in Cross-Border Litigation

by Scott Giordano in Legal, Technology. Posted June 8, 2015

The Scope of the Problem For U.S.-based, multinational organizations, privacy statutes in foreign nations have become a minefield that threaten to disrupt the day-to-day operations taken for granted at home. In one case, officers of search engine giant Google were convicted in Italy for criminal privacy violations when a third party uploaded an unauthorized video to the entity’s video-on-demand ...

Let Me Take a Look at That Tattoo…

by Grace Horoupian in Food & Beverage, Human Resources, Legal, Lodging. Posted June 8, 2015

There is no question that tattoos, body piercings, and other forms of self-expression have become commonplace in modern society, especially among the Gen X and Gen Y demographic. As a result, employers have to deal with these issues in the workplace, even in companies that traditionally have had conservative dress and appearance expectations such as ...

10 Steps to Prepare For an I-9 Audit

by Florian Dauny in Legal. Posted June 4, 2015

Immigration audits are on the rise. How can you ensure your restaurant complies? Many employers are unaware of the significance of the I-9 Form. This two-page form, once considered to be a “simple hiring form,” can carry hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential liability, as well as possible criminal penalties for managers and owners, ...

Deep-Fried Discrimination Claim: Lisa T. Jackson v. Paula Deen, et al.

by Craig Cowart in Food & Beverage, Human Resources, Legal. Posted June 4, 2015

The whole country watched as celebrity chef Paula Deen was roasted over the lawsuit filed by a former general manager of a Deen-affiliated restaurant. Now that the media storm is starting to fade, what lessons can employers and human resources professionals learn from what happened? Keep reading for a recipe to keep you “out of the frying pan” ...

When is a Union Not a Union? When It’s a “Worker Center”

by Steve Bernstein in Food & Beverage, Human Resources, Legal, Lodging. Posted June 4, 2015

When the word union is thrown around everyone seems to cringe. Steve Bernstein walks us through the ins and outs of what “worker centers” concept. The fast-food industry has fallen prey to coordinated demonstrations by a number of loosely affiliated groups, rallying around wages, benefits and other conditions. The strategy invoked by these so-called “worker centers ” (or ...

Can an Anonymous Tip Result in a Legal DUI Traffic Stop?

by Richard Blau in Legal. Posted June 4, 2015

The Gist One of the primary concerns of law enforcement generally, and state alcohol regulators in particular, is the war on drunk driving. Many law-related initiatives have been adopted over the years to fight the scourge of drunk driving. Over 20 years ago, the state-by-state campaign to lower the official Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) threshold used to determine ...

California Lifts Ban on Sale of Foie Gras

by Jordan Bernstein in Food & Beverage, Legal. Posted June 4, 2015

For the first time in two years, foie gras can be sold by retailers and gourmet California chefs can add the delicacy to their menus. A U.S. District Court judge yesterday ruled that the prohibition on the sale of the fatty liver dish violated the federal government’s regulatory domain. The judge based his decision on ...

Managerial Exemption and Class Actions

by Colin Calvert in Human Resources, Legal. Posted June 4, 2015

On March 20, 2013 a California Appellate court reinforced the fact that employees who attempt to certify class actions claims of “misclassification” of exempt employees (and related meal- and rest-period claims) face an uphill battle. William Dailey v. Sears, Roebuck and Company. Background Sears operates several auto centers throughout the San Diego area. The auto centers ...

Love is in the Air: Workplace Romance Policies

by Ria Chattergoon in Human Resources, Legal. Posted June 4, 2015

Ria Chattergoon of Fisher & Phillips recently published an article titled “Love is in the Air” in our partner publication In the Mix. In this piece, she discusses some factors that lead to romantic attraction between employees, and the steps companies should take to ensure a relationship won’t end in litigation. Read More (Page 34)!

Foreseeing Criminal Activity on Your Premises

by Maryalyce Cox in Legal, Lodging, Safety & Security. Posted June 4, 2015

A guest walks to the front desk of a hotel and reports that his car window has been smashed and his laptop and GPS unit have been stolen. His car was parked in the hotel parking lot. The hotel manager calls the local police and reports the crime, and then the guest turns to the ...

Legal ( Page 34 )