Human Resource and Employment Law - Assignment Example

Response to Question At a young age, Robert LaFollette (nick d “Fighting Bob began to develop a vocal opposition to political corruption and power in Corporate America; hence his nickname. As a Republican for most of his life, he made his way down a political path as the governor of Wisconsin, and ultimately a representative in the United States Senate. He primarily focused his support efforts on progressive reform, particularly with regard to unions in the railroad industry; during the early part of the 1900s (Wisconsin Historical Society, 2011).

His time spent in Washington was concentrated on similar progressive reform that he successfully fought for in his home state of Wisconsin. He served as an unofficial spokesperson against the abuse of workers in industrial organizations and government corruption. LaFollette supported union growth and development as a check-and-balance on large corporations’ power. Some of the notable, specific measures he supported included protection of workers’ rights, defence of small farmers, preservation of state forests, breaking up monopolies, and taxation on railroads (Wisconsin Historical Society, 2011).

Response to Question #3: The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals case of Spoerle v. Kraft Foods Global, Inc. involved plaintiffs (employees) suing their employer, Kraft. The lawsuit claimed the company was not paying employees for all time owed. Employees were fighting for payment of time spent getting into and out of required safety and sanitation clothing. Additionally, the employees felt they should be paid for the time spent walking to and from the stations where they worked at both the beginning and end of their shifts (Nicholas Kaster Attorneys at Law, 2008).