In what appears to be our country’s never-ending political season, employers should expect even more employee discussions on partisan matters during worktime as 2020 winds down. It really is hard to get away from the...
Employment Law Letter
As fall approaches, many employers are getting anxious about the upcoming flu season. With COVID-19 still unchecked, they could soon find themselves in the position of battling staffing challenges and employee health...
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued new forms you can use to meet the notice and certification requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Here are six good reasons to use the new forms. 1...
Most people know overtly sexual comments are likely to violate their employer’s rules and could lead to sexual harassment claims. But many don’t understand the comments are a problem not just because they’re sexual. That...
Ahead of a particularly divisive presidential election and in a year filled with extreme racial tensions, many people are flocking to social media as an outlet for their opinions. The platform allows them to voice...
Conducting effective and accurate employee evaluations is an important part of any manager’s or supervisor’s job. Employee evaluations can be used as a sword, cutting through an employer’s defenses of its adverse...
We’ve seen many protests throughout the country in the past several months. Initially, the events centered on restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19. More recently, the protests addressed the death of George...
With no end to the COVID-19 crisis in sight and the numbers of positive cases increasing in many areas, you may want to consider implementing a policy for your employees’ travel, if you haven’t already done so. As with...
Q We have an employee who definitely showed signs of being on drugs or alcohol at work. We want to let him go per our handbook policies, but he has now stated he is getting help for his problem. Is he protected since he...
Employers must include COVID-19 incentive payments, such as hazard pay, in an employee’s regular rate for calculating overtime payments, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) stated in recent guidance. What new guidance...
On September 8, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws”—updated guidance for both employers and...
The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Virginia employers) is standing by its August 26, 2020, ruling that the Gloucester County School Board’s policy requiring students to use the restroom corresponding...
Q We have an employee who recently requested intermittent Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave for flare ups and treatment of a chronic condition. Her doctor is about 1.5 hours from her home. Our company pays 100%...
Under the Tennessee Public Protection Act (TPPA), also known as the "whistleblowing statute,” it’s illegal to fire an employee if the sole cause for the termination was for refusing to either remain silent about or to...
It seems like we live in a tinderbox. The combination of the upcoming presidential election, emerging debates about social justice issues, and the ongoing pandemic seems to have created the perfect storm. When filtered...