Supreme Court to Rule on Scheduling Extra Time Off
The Supreme Court agreed to decide whether public employees who agree to extra time off instead of overtime pay can be forced to use the time off at their employer's convenience. The case involves a group of 120 Harris County, Texas, sheriff's deputies who say they have the right to decide when their time-off credits are used. The deputies filed a class-action lawsuit claiming the sheriff's department violated federal labor law by forcing them to use their credits only at certain times.

Home and Work Meet in the Middle
A new study by Pitney Bowes has found that the average American household sends and receives about 115 messages a week -- including 21 to and from work. Analysts say the trend reflects the blurring of the line between home and work, with more workers taking care of personal business on the job as well. The survey, which included 525 households, also looked at diaries kept by household members to determine how much home time was spent on work matters.

Holiday Labor Crunch Approaches
With the holiday season fast approaching, retailers are warning that this could be the toughest year yet for them to find seasonal employees. Analysts say the approaching labor shortage might trim profits slightly. But analysts also say that attention to retail employees' needs, such as flexible scheduling and clear opportunities for advancement, is one benefit of the labor crunch that is past due.

Harvard Employees to Get Back Pay
Several hundred Harvard University employees will receive millions of dollars in back pay and benefits after being "misclassified" as temporary workers. The university announced it had reached an agreement with the Harvard Union of Clerical & Technical Workers, two months after the school acknowledged that they should be considered full-time employees. The union contract states that anyone working at the university for three months must be classified as a full-time employee.