Featured Articles

Inappropriate Use of Company Computers: A New Alert for Employers
by Brian D. Thomas, Esq.

It is no secret: creating and enforcing an electronic systems policy whereby employee use of company computers is supervised and regulated is a good business practice. That said, a recent New Jersey case suggests that the proper enforcement of such a policy is also the employer’s duty. In fact, failure to do so may result in the employer being liable for the bad acts of their employees.
[FULL STORY]

Email and “Inadvertent” Waiver of the Attorney-Client Privilege
by Karyl Roberts Martin, Esq.

As email becomes a primary method of communication in the workplace, two recent decisions from the Business Litigation Session of the Massachusetts Superior Court raise issues concerning the attorney-client privilege that have important implications for both employers and employees. These decisions provide important guidance for employers who wish to retain the right to read and review employees’ email communications and Internet activities.
[FULL STORY]

Dynamic Changes in Concord
by Henry Veilleux and Kathleen Veracco

This past election brought with it the biggest political shakeup the New Hampshire State House has seen in over a century. Issues that legislators have been grappling with over the past few years will certianly get a new look this session. This article takes a peak at some of the priority issues policymakers will discuss in 2007.
[FULL STORY]

NH Wage and Hour Violations to Avoid in 2007
by Liz Bailey, Esq.

As many New Hampshire businesses can confirm, an employer may have more contact with, and more scrutiny from, the New Hampshire Department of Labor than its federal counterpart. The NHDOL enforces a comprehensive set of statutes and regulations that impose legal requirements on employers, ranging from requirements concerning the payment of wages, to protections for whistleblowers, to an employer’s obligations concerning personnel files.
[FULL STORY]

The Brave New World of Document Retention and Destruction
by James P. Harris, Esq., and Christopher J. Hamlen, Esq.

Most companies have document retention/destruction policies, but surprisingly few companies have policies that deal explicitly with electronically stored information (“ESI”). Failing to implement policies governing the destruction, deletion and overwriting of ESI carries serious consequences in today’s legal environment.
[FULL STORY]

Once More Into the Breach: New Requirements under NH Law When Private Information is Compromised
by Priscilla Kimball, Esq.

New Hampshire has imposed new obligations on anyone doing business in the state that maintains personal information about others in electronic form. Although the new statutory provisions called “Notice of Security Breach," which are effective January 1, 2007, sit within the “New Hampshire Right to Privacy Act” in NH RSA 359-C, it is more expansive than the other provisions of that Act, which apply primarily to financial institutions, their creditors and customers.
[FULL STORY]

First Circuit Expands FMLA Protections
by Mark J. Ventola, Esq.

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit held that an employee with a five-year break in service was entitled to count previous periods of employment with the same employer towards satisfying the length of service requirement under the Family and Medical Leave Act. This ruling is significant, and all employers need to be familiar with it when determining whether an employee qualifies for a requested leave.
[FULL STORY]

Sheehan Phinney News

SPB+G Hosts Event for Obama’s First Trip to NH
Heritage United Way Honors Manchester, Appoints Harwood
Reidy, Ventola Visit White House
Awards
Nominations
New Hires
[FULL STORY]

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Client Profile

New England’s Yankee Magazine Updates its Format and Approach
by Mark Laliberte

When a venerable publication like Yankee Magazine makes little changes, its loyal readers take notice. When it makes major changes, as it recently has, you can bet there will be opinions.
[FULL STORY]

Upcoming Events

AARP Calls for 2007 “Best Employers for Workers Over 50” Applications

The application deadline for the annual AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50 list is fast approaching. Employers that offer workplace practices and policies that benefit workers above age 50 are encouraged to apply at www.aarp.org/bestemployers before the Feb. 22, 2007, deadline.

For more infomation, please go online at www.aarp.org/bestemployers or call the AARP New Hampshire office at 603.629.0066

Annual Dinner and Citizen of the Year Award

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce

February 1, 2007

Radisson Hotel Manchester, Center of NH, Manchester;

5 p.m.

$85/member, $100/nonmember

Small Business Day at the State House

Business and Industry Association of NH

February 6, 2007

8 a.m. to noon

Holiday Inn

172 North Main St.

Concord.

$15 fee, which includes continental breakfast.

To register, contact a participating local chamber or call 603.224.5388, ext. 116 or visit www.acteva.com/go/nhbia.

Eminence Awards

Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce

February 7, 2007

Noon

Crowne Plaza Hotel

2 Somerset Parkway

Nashua, NH

For more information, please go to www.nashuachamber.com or visit 603.881.8333.

Congressional Breakfast

Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce

February 12, 2007

7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Wyndham Andover Hotel

Andover, MA

$20/members, $30/nonmembers

For reservations, call 978.686.0900 or go to www.merrimackvalleychamber.org.

2007 Breakfast with the Best

Business NH Magazine

February 13, 2007

7:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Radisson Hotel at the Center of NH

700 Elm St.

Manchester, NH

For more information, contact Beth Jellison at 603.626.6354 or at www.businessnhmagazine.com.

Greater Merrimack Valley HR Association Monthly Meeting

A legal update on various changes to federal and local employment law

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Registration/Networking 8 a.m.; program 8:30 a.m.to noon

Northern Essex Community College (Corporate and Community Education Center)

1600 Osgood St.

North Andover, MA

Speakers: Jim Reidy, SPB+G Manchester

For more information, contact the Greater Merrimack Valley Human Resources Association at www.gmvhra.com/events03072007.htm

Annual Dinner

Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce

April 25, 2007

DiBurros

887 Boston Road

Haverhill, MA

6 p.m.

$85/member, $850 for table of 10

For details, call 978.686.0900 or go to www.merrimackvalleychamber.org

Good Company Archives

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