According to the New York Times, a subject regularly covered on this blog raised its head recently at the annual Seventh Circuit Bar Association meeting in Indianapolis during a freewheeling panel discussion among judges. Since word got out about this, lawyers across the country have joined an online debate that impacts all kinds of employers.

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We’ve had one instrumental so far: The Work Song by Herb Alpert & the Tijuanna Brass. It’s time for another: Work Song by the Cannonball Adderley Sextet.

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In AT&T Corporation v. Hulteen, the U.S. Supreme Court takes us back to another time in our country when maternity leave was inferior. The Court’s decision isn’t just a trip down memory lane, but significant for the present.

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In the UK, they use the word redundancy instead of layoffs. The British version of The Office, which to me is wildly funny, captures the poignancy of a layoff, when David Brent (Ricky Gervais), the boss, is made redundant and begs not to be. 

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As you’ve surely heard by now, President Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. If confirmed, Sotomayor would be the first Latino justice ever on the Supreme Court. She was appointed first to the federal District Court by President George H.W. Bush over 16 years ago and then to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals by President Bill Clinton. Stay tuned for a full report on Judge Sotomayor’s likely impact on labor and employment law if she’s confirmed.

The influential Greek statesman and orator Pericles lived from 495-429 B.C. Something he’s credited with saying lets you know that something happening today has been happening a long, long time.

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Eclecticiity provides a cartoon that captures the confusing aftermath of the bailouts.

Today, we honor all members of our armed forces who’ve given their lives to defend freedom and country. This day is a holiday for many employers and employees, but it should also be regarded as sacred. 

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Blanche Primm Phillips, November 25, 1914 — May 18, 2009: Farmer’s daughter, factory worker, exemplary homemaker, gracious lady, hospitable servant, faithful Christian, devoted and selfless wife, happy and nurturing mother, loving and proud grandmother. She has found eternal peace, joy and rest. Thanks be to God.

With the convergence of our economic crisis and swine flu fears, sick days are nothing to sneeze at. Some workers have always taken pride in never missing a day of work because of sickness. They don’t take into account the number of coworkers they’ve made sick to keep their record perfect. 

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Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment. It might as well say a physically impaired human on earth and a crazy alien from outer space. The worlds remain that far apart, and it carries over to health care. In all the talk about health care reform, I’ve yet to hear anyone address the disparity that still exists between physical health and mental health. There can’t be reform without finally making the two equal.

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According to a New York Times report, female employees have continued to come a long way, baby. Women not only comprise more than 50% of management, professional and related occupations, the number of female bullies is also on the rise. While male bullies target men and women equally, the female bully prefers her own kind. So, what’s going on?

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The Rakes may have the perfect song for our time, given some of the lyrics: “Someone’s always talking when I try to make some sense, From all this stress that is constantly going on, I just drift along with no focus or meaning, Lean back, stare up at the ceiling, I just drift along with no focus or meaning.”

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That’s a moot question, of course. In addition to being the Vicar of Christ, Pope Benedict XVI is infallible. His public relations team isn’t, however, and it’s perhaps the Vatican’s PR director who should be shown the door. In any event, there are lessons to be learned from the Pope’s recent visit to the Middle East.

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No one will dispute that problem solving is important in any workplace, particularly when it comes to human resources. Problem solving takes on different forms, however, as the following video clip shows:

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