Employment Class And Collective Actions

Long regarded as a powerful means to seek individual damages against a corporate defendant, class actions have become a staple of the U.S. litigation system. In recent years, however, several highly significant Supreme Court decisions have weakened the commonality claims of defendants, particularly in workplace discrimination actions. In light of this background, the trends and prospects of employment class actions were the theme of the 56th annual proceedings of the prestigious New York University Conference on Labor, held in May 2003. This important volume reprints the papers presented at that conference, as well as some additional contributions. Among the considerable expertise brought to bear on this controversial subject, readers will find insightful analysis of such issues as the following: Effect of class actions on losing companies; Importance of class actions to Title VII enforcement; Obstacles to class litigation; Compliance and internal enforcement challenges for large employers; Opt-in vs. opt-out alternatives for class members; Value and effectiveness of pattern or practice test cases; Legal limits of group identity; Shifting of the burden of proof; Authority of arbitrators to proceed on a class wide basis; and Countering statistical claims of expert witnesses. Because class actions are based on tension – that between commonality and individuation – they tend to accumulate precedent along a spectrum from disconnected disparity to meaningful resolution. In this deeply informed and thought-provoking book, lawyers and academics concerned with both the interests of employers and of employees will proceed with increased awareness as they work on reconciling the practical and theoretical constraints of class litigation.

Strategies for Employment Class and Collective Actions provides an authoritative, insiders perspective on key tips for assisting clients through negotiating conditions in a settlement. Featuring experienced partners from law firms across the nation, these experts guide the reader through collecting documentation and evaluating when it is best to settle. These top lawyers offer specific advice on developing relationships with experts and witnesses, encouraging clients to use wage and hour policies, and helping clients stay up-to-date on various class action certification requirements. From fluctuations in wage and hour regulations to the benefits of early action, these experts stress the importance of educating clients on labor laws and taking preventative measures against policies at risk for litigation. The different niches represented and the breadth of perspectives presented enable readers to get inside some of the great legal minds of today, as these experienced lawyers offer up their thoughts on the keys to success within this ever-present field.

Long regarded as a powerful means to seek individual damages against a corporate defendant, class actions have become a staple of the U.S. litigation system. In recent years, however, several highly significant Supreme Court decisions have weakened the commonality claims of defendants, particularly in workplace discrimination actions. In light of this background, the trends and prospects of employment class actions were the theme of the 56th annual proceedings of the prestigious New York University Conference on Labor, held in May 2003. This important volume reprints the papers presented at that conference, as well as some additional contributions. Among the considerable expertise brought to bear on this controversial subject, readers will find insightful analysis of such issues as the following: Effect of class actions on losing companies; Importance of class actions to Title VII enforcement; Obstacles to class litigation; Compliance and internal enforcement challenges for large employers; Opt-in vs. opt-out alternatives for class members; Value and effectiveness of pattern or practice test cases; Legal limits of group identity; Shifting of the burden of proof; Authority of arbitrators to proceed on a class wide basis; and Countering statistical claims of expert witnesses. Because class actions are based on tension - that between commonality and individuation - they tend to accumulate precedent along a spectrum from disconnected disparity to meaningful resolution. In this deeply informed and thought-provoking book, lawyers and academics concerned with both the interests of employers and of employees will proceed with increased awareness as they work on reconciling the practical and theoretical constraints of class litigation.

Written from the defense perspective, Wage & Hour Collective and Class Litigation covers every step of a case, from complaint to certification, trial, verdict, settlement or dismissal.

Long regarded as a powerful means to seek individual damages against a corporate defendant, class actions have become a staple of the U.S. litigation system. In recent years, however, several highly significant Supreme Court decisions have weakened the commonality claims of defendants, particularly in workplace discrimination actions. In light of this background, the trends and prospects of employment class actions were the theme of the 56th annual proceedings of the prestigious New York University Conference on Labor, held in May 2003. This important volume reprints the papers presented at that conference, as well as some additional contributions. Among the considerable expertise brought to bear on this controversial subject, readers will find insightful analysis of such issues as the following: Effect of class actions on losing companies; Importance of class actions to Title VII enforcement; Obstacles to class litigation; Compliance and internal enforcement challenges for large employers; Opt-in vs. opt-out alternatives for class members; Value and effectiveness of pattern or practice test cases; Legal limits of group identity; Shifting of the burden of proof; Authority of arbitrators to proceed on a class wide basis; and Countering statistical claims of expert witnesses. Because class actions are based on tension - that between commonality and individuation - they tend to accumulate precedent along a spectrum from disconnected disparity to meaningful resolution. In this deeply informed and thought-provoking book, lawyers and academics concerned with both the interests of employers and of employees will proceed with increased awareness as they work on reconciling the practical and theoretical constraints of class litigation.

When employees sign employment agreements, they are most likely not concerned about a mandatory arbitration provision forbidding them from engaging in class or collective actions. The United States Supreme Court has shown a strong preference for enforcing arbitration agreements, even when they foreclose rights to collective action. The National Labor Relations Board, however, has found that individual employment agreements may not prevent employees from engaging in protected concerted activity in both union and nonunion environments. The Board ruled in D.R. Horton that individual, as opposed to collectively bargained, arbitration agreements that are a condition of employment, may not bar collective action through both arbitral and judicial forums. The Board reasons that Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act mandates the preservation of rights to collective activity, and that the Supreme Court's strong preference for individual arbitration must accommodate the text and legislative history of the Act. Despite the Board's decision, most federal courts have declined to strike down mandatory arbitration agreements that foreclose collective action, even when it means undermining rights under federal wage and hour statutes as well as employees' NLRA rights. The authors support the NLRB's interpretation as the correct and preferred framework for analysis of NLRA challenges to forced individual arbitration. The authors maintain that the courts should recognize that the Board's decision is consistent with Supreme Court precedent and adopt the reasoning of the NLRB to preserve substantive federal statutory rights of private sector employees.

Long regarded as a powerful means to seek individual damages against a corporate defendant, class actions have become a staple of the U.S. litigation system. In recent years, however, several highly significant Supreme Court decisions have weakened the commonality claims of defendants, particularly in workplace discrimination actions. In light of this background, the trends and prospects of employment class actions were the theme of the 56th annual proceedings of the prestigious New York University Conference on Labor, held in May 2003. This important volume reprints the papers presented at that conference, as well as some additional contributions. Among the considerable expertise brought to bear on this controversial subject, readers will find insightful analysis of such issues as the following: Effect of class actions on losing companies; Importance of class actions to Title VII enforcement; Obstacles to class litigation; Compliance and internal enforcement challenges for large employers; Opt-in vs. opt-out alternatives for class members; Value and effectiveness of pattern or practice test cases; Legal limits of group identity; Shifting of the burden of proof; Authority of arbitrators to proceed on a class wide basis; and Countering statistical claims of expert witnesses. Because class actions are based on tension - that between commonality and individuation - they tend to accumulate precedent along a spectrum from disconnected disparity to meaningful resolution. In this deeply informed and thought-provoking book, lawyers and academics concerned with both the interests of employers and of employees will proceed with increased awareness as they work on reconciling the practical and theoretical constraints of class litigation.

Employment Law, Second Edition, presents a dynamic survey of contemporary issues. As an introduction to employment or labor law, or as a supplement to traditional collective bargaining or employment discrimination courses, Richard Carlson offers complete coverage of basic employment law and fills in the gaps between labor and discrimination. Engaging and timely, Employment Law, Second Edition features: cutting-edge topics, including the rights of undocumented workers, disputes over working time and abusive pay practices, enforcement of rights to health insurance and other benefits, investigation of employee misconduct, wrongful discharge, “whistleblowers,” conflicts between the demands of work and family, covenants not to compete, and more complete coverage of basic employment law doctrine and legislation, including the latest new employment statutes and cases consistent emphasis on context with regard to potential employment disputes, such as the formation of the employer-employee relationship; questions of status; and employee selection, compensation, supervision, dischar≥ and post-employment disputes a thought-provoking case selection that will stimulate class discussion Updated throughout, The Second Edition offers: the latest developments in legal protection for undocumented workers and liabilities of their employers new cases and laws on employee selection, including the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and restrictions against “personality testing” of employees developments in the law of compensation, including antitrust violations by employers, disputes over working time, and class and “collective” actions for unpaid wages updated treatment of rules of nondiscrimination and fiduciary duty in employer-provided health, retirement and other benefit plans analysis of state efforts to mandate employer-provided health insurance coverage of new laws For The protection of employees whose family members are called to active military duty expanded and updated coverage of legal protections for whistleblowers and other employees acting in the public interest, including the latest draft of the proposed Restatement of Employment Law Exploring contemporary topics in employment law, from employee status and contract formation to termination and post-termination issues, Employment Law, Second Edition focuses on the real-life context of potential employment disputes.