‘Tis the season for holiday cheer and employer-sponsored celebrations.  It’s a good time to heed the words of sage employment lawyers who want to help you avoid celebration-related complaints, charges and lawsuits.  Last week, Robin Shea gave employers a quiz on holiday party best practices.  Shaun Reid provided five tips to avoid liability from too much merriment.   Jon Hyman explained the legalities of decking the halls.  All worthwhile reads, containing good advice!

• The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear whether a successful employer-defendant can recover attorneys’ fees and costs under Title VII.
• A New York laundry services company will pay $582,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by 8 women who alleged their supervisor physically and verbally abused them.
• Sabrina L. Baker advised small businesses to do compliance training, especially anti-harassment training.
• A transgender woman sued a Fargo, North Dakota hospital for gender discrimination.

• Mike Haberman discussed  tattoos as the next wearable for the workplace.
• SHRM covered one company that learned to use analytics to make smarter hires.
• The Next Web reported on the era of rapid innovation and the rise of the robots to take over jobs.
• A University of Southern California professor predicted five forces shaping the future of HR.
• A Ford Foundation publication described how algorithms can magnify bias.
• Corporate Counsel outlined three key elements of drafting data security provisions.

• Zenefits learned the hard way that poorly drafted handbook policies can lead to lawsuits.
• The U.S. Department of Labor has been targeting the retail sector for “common” FLSA violations.
• Eric B. Meyer explained there is no FMLA interference when an employee uses FMLA improperly.