When Private Lives Meet Workplace Discipline: How Arbitrators View Off-Duty Conduct

/ Law Offices of Brian J. Smith, ltd/
When Private Lives Meet Workplace Discipline: How Arbitrators View Off-Duty Conduct

Where does an employer's authority end and an employee's private life begin? This question frequently arises in labor disputes when workers face discipline for actions that occurred outside work hours and away from company property. While employees often assume their personal lives remain their own business, employers sometimes claim that certain off-duty behaviors justify workplace consequences.

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Understanding Ohio's Per Se OVI Charges: When Numbers Tell the Story

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Understanding Ohio's Per Se OVI Charges: When Numbers Tell the Story

Ohio's Operating a Vehicle under the Influence (OVI) laws include specific provisions known as "per se" violations, which create a unique framework for prosecution. These charges differ from traditional impairment-based OVI cases because they rely solely on chemical test results rather than observable signs of impairment.

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Can Off-Duty Behavior Cost You Your Unemployment Benefits in Ohio?

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Can Off-Duty Behavior Cost You Your Unemployment Benefits in Ohio?

Losing your job is difficult enough, but discovering you might be ineligible for unemployment benefits because of something you did outside of work hours can be devastating. As Ohio unemployment attorneys, we regularly help clients navigate these complex situations.

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Arbitrators' Decision-Making: Evaluating Workplace Discipline

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Arbitrators' Decision-Making: Evaluating Workplace Discipline

When reviewing workplace discipline cases where some misconduct has been established, arbitrators face the challenge of determining whether the employer's chosen penalty fits the offense. This analysis involves weighing numerous factors to ensure that discipline serves its proper purpose—to correct behavior rather than merely punish, except in the most serious cases.

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The Ohio Felony Criminal Process: A Defense Attorney's Guide

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The Ohio Felony Criminal Process: A Defense Attorney's Guide

Understanding the progression of a felony criminal case in Ohio requires deep familiarity with multiple procedural stages, each carrying its own strategic considerations and constitutional protections. This overview examines the key phases defendants and their counsel navigate from arrest through final disposition.

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When Can an Employee Quit and Still Receive Unemployment? Understanding Just Cause Based on Contract Breaches

/ Law Offices of Brian J. Smith, ltd/
When Can an Employee Quit and Still Receive Unemployment? Understanding Just Cause Based on Contract Breaches

Ohio unemployment law recognizes that employees sometimes face situations where quitting their job becomes a reasonable choice - particularly when employers make substantial changes to the terms of employment. A close examination of Ohio court decisions reveals that reductions in income, whether through direct pay cuts or reduced hours, often form the heart of these cases.

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The Duty of Fair Representation: A Guide for Ohio Labor Unions

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The Duty of Fair Representation: A Guide for Ohio Labor Unions

As a labor union in Ohio, one of your core responsibilities is to fairly represent all members of the bargaining unit, regardless of their union membership status or personal relationships with union leadership. This obligation, known as the duty of fair representation, is a legal principle established through state and federal case law as well as statutes that applies to all union activities, including collective bargaining, grievance processing, and contract enforcement.

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The Active Work Search Requirement for Ohio Unemployment Benefits: What Claimants Need to Know

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The Active Work Search Requirement for Ohio Unemployment Benefits: What Claimants Need to Know

When receiving unemployment benefits in Ohio, simply filing weekly claims is not enough - claimants must actively search for new employment. The Ohio courts have established that a person must make reasonable, good faith efforts to find suitable work, going beyond merely registering with the unemployment office.

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Interest-Based Bargaining: A Modern Approach to Labor Negotiations

/ Law Offices of Brian J. Smith, ltd/
Interest-Based Bargaining: A Modern Approach to Labor Negotiations

Traditional collective bargaining often creates an atmosphere of conflict, where opposing sides stake out positions and gradually wear each other down through tactical maneuvers. While this conventional approach has achieved results over many decades, labor professionals are increasingly exploring interest-based bargaining (IBB), also known as collaborative bargaining, as an alternative. This cooperative approach emphasizes joint problem-solving and mutual understanding rather than positional conflict.

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Understanding Criminal Bonds in Ohio: A Defense Attorney's Guide

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Understanding Criminal Bonds in Ohio: A Defense Attorney's Guide

Criminal bonds serve as the judicial system's mechanism for ensuring defendants appear at court proceedings while balancing their constitutional right to reasonable bail. These financial arrangements between courts, defendants, and sureties create accountability while preserving the presumption of innocence.

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Understanding Terminations During Notice Periods: A Critical Distinction for Unemployment Benefits

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Understanding Terminations During Notice Periods: A Critical Distinction for Unemployment Benefits

The timing and circumstances of an employment separation can dramatically affect eligibility for unemployment benefits. While employees who resign typically face an uphill battle in qualifying for benefits, an employer's decision to terminate employment before the resignation's effective date can fundamentally change the legal analysis.

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Understanding Chemical Dependency Assessments in Ohio Criminal Cases

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Understanding Chemical Dependency Assessments in Ohio Criminal Cases

When facing substance-related charges in Ohio, a chemical dependency assessment often plays a pivotal role in both legal defense strategy and personal recovery. Understanding what happens during this evaluation can help defendants approach the process with confidence and use the results effectively in their defense.

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