Last year brought key employment law news, issues, and decisions affecting employers and employees. Worker classification (overtime exempt vs. nonexempt, and independent contractor vs. employee) and stricter enforcement on unemployment compensation and payroll taxes was the norm, as governmental agencies sought to maintain public coffers.

The latest headlines alleging sexual harassment by presidential contender Herman Cain, and child sex abuse, reporting and cover-up issues at Penn State, clearly send a sad message about society. But, besides the moral and ethical concerns, this is a wake-up call for employers and managers to know and enforce their legal obligations about serious workplace misconduct, sexual harassment, reporting, and retaliation. Employers and individual managers face civil and criminal consequences if they fail to appropriately handle these situations.