Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), commonly referred to as the “coronavirus,” remains a developing situation, it has begun affecting the US in major ways. With cases now reported throughout the US, every organization should have a plan of action in place concerning the coronavirus. Although every business faces unique considerations, a cross-disciplinary team of … Continue Reading
You can’t escape the panic spreading through mass and social media regarding the 2020 Wuhan Novel Coronavirus, a virus that has resulted in fatalities in China and infected thousands worldwide. Symptoms mimic that of influenza (fever, cough), but can include difficulty breathing, pneumonia, kidney failure, and death in severe cases. Despite the panic, there are … Continue Reading
State-registered medical cannabis patients may now sue a private employer for discrimination under Massachusetts’ law if they are fired for their off-the-job marijuana use, according to landmark ruling issued July 17, 2017, by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Citing the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Act, the court states that patients shall not be denied “any right … Continue Reading
The Acas National Newsletter for June, out earlier this week, contains some slightly updated advice on the eternal question of how you calculate holiday pay, plus an existential poser on the relationship between sickness and holiday accrual. On the holiday pay front, there remains no steer as to how commission or overtime earnings should be … Continue Reading
Legally-speaking O’Brien – v – Bolton St Catherine’s Academy as reported last week is mostly about how much overlap there is between fairness for unfair dismissal purposes and justification in disability discrimination terms (in brief, very substantial). It is also a fine illustration of how hard it is to overturn an Employment Tribunal judgement on … Continue Reading
The election results are in, and President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Secretary Hillary Clinton has the nation abuzz and undoubtedly will for the foreseeable future. However, the Presidential race was not the only notable race or measure on the ballot. Although the dust hasn’t quite settled from last night’s historic vote, there a number of … Continue Reading
Illinois passes two new leave laws; bars non-compete agreements for low wage workers. First, the Child Bereavement Leave Act, which became effective July 29, 2016, requires Illinois employers with 50 or more employees to grant up to two weeks (10 days) of unpaid leave to eligible employees who have lost a child (and 6 weeks … Continue Reading
Dealing with employee absences and grievances in redundancy consultation You’ve delivered the at risk letter and sent the employee home on pay pending the formal consultation meeting. As an HR professional it is possible that your faith in human nature has become a little corroded over time, so you are not completely surprised when what … Continue Reading
Many employers maintain policies that restrict the amount of time an employee can take off from work, or that prohibit employees who are ineligible for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act to take time off from work at all even when ill or injured. But a new resource document issued by the EEOC … Continue Reading
Yesterday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed into law legislation that increases that state’s minimum wage from $9.25 to up to $14.75 by 2022, the highest of any state. The first increases go into effect on July 1, 2016. Under SB 1532 [PDF], minimum wage rates vary based upon the employer’s location, as set forth in … Continue Reading
The Department of Labor (DOL) has announced a Proposed Rule [pdf] to implement Executive Order 13706, Establishing Paid Sick Leave for federal contractors. As we previously reported, under that Order, beginning January 1, 2017 federal contractors and subcontractors must grant each employee working under covered contracts (or covered subcontracts) one hour of paid sick leave … Continue Reading
Spokane, Washington has become the next city to pass a paid sick leave law. On January 26, 2016, the Spokane City Council overrode the Mayor’s veto of ORD C35300 [pdf] (originally passed by the Council on January 11). The new law will become effective on January 1, 2017. The law states that it applies to … Continue Reading
The beginning of 2016 is a busy year for New York employers. Both the state and New York City have enacted a variety of laws expanding protections for employees. Employers need to review their policies to ensure they are in compliance. NEW YORK STATE Effective January 19, 2016, the New York State Human Rights Law … Continue Reading
As 2015 draws to a close, our final state law round-up will provide information about minimum wage increases taking effect in 2016, some recent developments on the local sick leave law front, and other issues to take note of heading into 2016. 2016 State and Local Minimum Wage Rates With the federal minimum wage still … Continue Reading
Yesterday (September 7, 2015), while most workers were celebrating Labor Day, President Obama signed an Executive Order mandating that private employers doing business with the federal government provide paid sick leave to those employees working under federal contracts. Under the Order, beginning January 1, 2017, all federal contractors and subcontractors must agree to grant each … Continue Reading
California employers, take note. Emergency legislation amending and clarifying certain provisions of the recently-effective Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act was signed into law Monday (July 13) by Governor Brown, and went into effect immediately. Among other changes, AB 304 amends the Act as follows: Regarding accrual of sick leave: Provides that an employer may use … Continue Reading
We have almost all been there at one time or another. You have a “large” weekend so when Monday morning forces its way through the curtains the last thing you want to do is drag your hungover bones into work and face the world. For most of us though, if you do decide to take … Continue Reading
From Lauren Kuley via Squire Patton Boggs’ Sixth Circuit Appellate Blog: On April 10, the Sixth Circuit issued a significant decision on telecommuting accommodations for disabled employees. In EEOC v. Ford Motor Co., a divided en banc Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Ford on claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act by the Equal Employment Opportunity … Continue Reading
In the aftermath of International Womens’ Day, the history books were once again re-written when the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal classified a pregnant worker’s severe morning sickness as a disability under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic). Ms Bevilacqua was a full time Sales Consultant at a Telstra store up until October 2013 when … Continue Reading
Maybe we should start calling it ‘chic’ leave, since it’s all the rage right now. Tacoma and Philadelphia are the latest municipalities to require private employers to provide employees with sick leave. They join three states (California, Connecticut and Massachusetts) and fifteen other municipalities (D.C.; Oakland and San Francisco, CA; East Orange, Irvington, Jersey City, … Continue Reading
California Governor Brown signed the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (the “Act”) which will provide qualifying California employees with paid sick leave beginning July 1, 2015. Modeled on a Connecticut law and the San Francisco Paid Sick Leave ordinance, this Act will generally provide employees who work at least 30 days per year … Continue Reading
For the next in our series on mental health in the workplace we take a look at some helpful guidance in ACAS’s booklet, “Promoting Positive Mental Health at Work.” Barring a surprising number of typographical clangers, this is actually a pretty good read. The plot is a bit thin, but there are some key messages … Continue Reading
“I don’t do stress” is a very 1980’s statement and does not stand up to scientific analysis any more than Gordon Gekko’s “Lunch is for wimps”. Stress is something that we will all feel from time to time. Many successful business and sports professionals feel stress or even anxiety at some point during their careers, … Continue Reading
You have to feel sorry for Paul Marshallsea of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, sacked by his outraged employer after online footage went around the world showing him wrestling away a six-foot shark as it threatened children playing off a beach in Australia. The reason for the employer’s outrage – at the time of his shark-wrestling exploits, … Continue Reading
