Alaska Employment Law

Jump to Comments

Employment Law Section
Alaska Bar Association
September 5, 2007

1.  Title 18 attorney fees: A prevailing plaintiff in a Title 18 sexual or racial harassment case may recover actual attorney fees if she/he proves a criminal “assault in any degree,” or “a sexual assault in any degree.”  AS 09.60.070(c)(4), (6).  AEL discussion: http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=96

2.  Trade secrets: The Alaska Uniform Trade Secrets Act “displace[s] conflicting tort, restitutionary, and other state laws” regarding misappropriation of trade secrets.  AS 45.50.930(a).

3.  Flextime: Alaska puts no ceiling on the hours over 8/day or 40/week that an employer may treat as straight-time if the collective bargaining agreement so provides.  But the FLSA requires even unionized employers with NLRB-approved flextime provisions in the CBA to pay overtime for hours over 12/day or 56/week.  AEL discussion: http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=90

4.  Equal Protection – no more “sliding scale”?:  The Alaska Supreme Court has seemingly reverted to a two-tier test for EP: rationality, and strict scrutiny, in an opinion regarding the right to earn a living.  Roberts v. State, Dep’t of Rev. 162 P.3d 1214 (Alaska June 22, 2007).  AEL discussion: http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=83

5.  AWHA re professionals:  By state statute, an employer must pay a salary to an exempt administrator, executive, or professional that is at least 2 times the state minimum wage.  But by regulation, the salary for an exempt administrator or executive must be at least 2.5 times the minimum wage.   AEL discussion:   http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=62

6.  AWHA – DOL or judicial approval of OT compromises:  DeSalvo v. Bryant, 42 P.3d 525 (Alaska 2002), suggests that a reviewing court must make factual findings regarding AWHA coverage, exemptions, and perhaps the strength of the claim, at least where the parties dispute whether the employee asserts an AWHA claim.  AEL discussion:  http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=116  The blog’s post includes a sample form to submit to the DOL.

7.  Rep. Don Young:  Rep. Young voted in favor of the bill to undo the U. S. Supreme Court’s recent Ledbetter opinion, i.e., to make the issuance of each paycheck be the accrual date for claims of discriminatory pay.  AEL discussion: http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=115

8.  ANCSA employers:  There’s a circuit split about whether Title VII’s exemption for tribes also bars 42 USC § 1981 claims for racial discrimination in employment.  The 4th Circuit recently said § 1981 is unimpaired by the Title VII exemption; some years ago, the 10th Circuit held to the contrary.  AEL discussion: http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=3

9.  Legal research: WestClip permits you to monitor issue-specific decisions from specified courts, e.g., all published employment law opinions from the U. S. District of Alaska, or all employment law opinions (both published and unpublished) from the 9th Circuit.  To access WestClip (assuming you subscribe to Westlaw), click on “AlertCenter,” and then “WestClip.”   Now “Create” your inquiry. 

For example, to capture all District of Alaska published opinions on employment, use the DCTAK database and the appropriate search terms (employer employee employment)  .  West will notify you either by e-mail, or when you log on to your Westlaw account (your choice).

Even better: Justia.com is supposedly soon allowing free word searches of all federal district court decisions, unpublished as well as published: http://blog.librarylaw.com/librarylaw/2007/04/feeding_the_rea.html

10.  Legal novels:  Stephen Carter (Yale law prof.) writes great novels with legal themes, first The Emperor of Ocean Park and now New England White.  AEL discussion:  http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=114

About the Alaska Employment Law blog

To visit: Go to http://www.akemplaw.com/

To bookmark: Visit site.  On Internet Explorer, click on “Favorites,” and then on “Add to Favorites.”

To comment on some else’s post: Register (see below), go to the post you want to comment on, hit “Comments” (lower right of the post), and have at it.

To contribute a post: You have two options.

1) Register first.  Then, contact me (will at schendellaw.com), and I’ll give you access to post your article.  I’ll screen the article before it goes on-line (only for formatting, etc., not for viewpoint), get back to you with any issues, and then post it.

         or

2) Simply send me the article/note as an attachment to an e-mail.  I’ll screen, etc., and get back to you promptly.

In either case, submit biographical/law firm information if you wish.

To register: Go to the blog; locate the (gray-yellow) sidebar on the right side.  In the “Meta” box at the bottom of the sidebar, find “Register” and click on it.  Follow directions.

Examples of possible AEL contributions

You could submit –

An analysis of a new opinion: E.g., Gregory Fisher’s article on the recent 9th Circuit opinion on the “cat’s paw” theory - http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=139

Some practical suggestions for employers: E.g., Kathy Frederick’s article on the best employer policy on responses to reference requests - http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=73

A form for practitioners:  E.g., Margie Harris’ model discovery on the Faragher-Ellerth affirmative defense - http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=132

A copy of an unpublished trial court opinion/verdict: E.g., the recent Harms v. Hageland $1.6 million OT class settlement documents - http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=153

An overview of Alaska law on specific topic: E.g., Aimee Oravec’s article on the record-keeping responsibilities of Alaska employers - http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=119

A report on legislative action: E.g., Mike Hostina’s article on changes to the Alaska Ethics Act - http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=38, and Lee Holen’s article on federal efforts to undo the effect of the Ledbetter decision - http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=77

A report on CLE: E.g., Barb Jones’ report on the June 18th Anchorage talk of EEOC Chair Naomi Earp -  http://www.akemplaw.com/wiki/?p=82