By Heather R. Falks, Deputy General Counsel • Office of General Counsel While more prevalent today, discussions about gender and sexual identity can still feel uncomfortable for some. But there is no need to shy away from becoming educated on recent developments in the law related to gender identity and sexual orientation. These developments make clear the responsibilities of judges and how they interact with t … [Read more...] about Gender, Sexual Orientation & Employment
Employment
Your court’s obligations regarding employee use of family medical leave
Heather Falks, Employment Attorney/ADA Coordinator · Office of General Counsel Indiana trial courts have an obligation to offer benefits under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Court employees are employees of the court and not the county; however, many trial courts rely on the county to assist in the administration of FMLA benefits. Even if your court relies on the county to assist you with FMLA, as the … [Read more...] about Your court’s obligations regarding employee use of family medical leave
The Vaccine and Its Impact on Court Operations
By Heather Falks, Employment Attorney & ADA Coordinator | Indiana Supreme Court We finally made it to 2021…and COVID-19 is still here. We all hoped it would feel more familiar—but not in the sense that we are getting used to stockpiling sanitizer and masks. Unfortunately, the concerns of 2020 have not fully dissipated, but the widespread availability of a vaccine gives us hope that our old normal is on the hor … [Read more...] about The Vaccine and Its Impact on Court Operations
The Lasting Benefit of the Pandemic: Remote Work
By Heather R. Falks, Employment Attorney - ADA Coordinator | Indiana Supreme Court Change is inevitable, and it is our choice whether we resist change or evolve with it. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought changes to nearly all aspects of daily life—including the way we work. Employees have set up offices in their living rooms. Employers have scrambled to accommodate the world of remote work, or teleworking. We have a … [Read more...] about The Lasting Benefit of the Pandemic: Remote Work
Real perils of the Fair Labor Standards Act
By Brenda Rodeheffer, General Counsel | Office of General Counsel Don’t get caught without defenses in a lawsuit brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 USC § 201. The FLSA sets the minimum standards for payment of employees. It applies to all court employers, regardless of size. The FLSA classifies all employees into two broad categories: exempt from FLSA overtime requirements and non-exempt from the same. M … [Read more...] about Real perils of the Fair Labor Standards Act