To avoid the risks of employment law claims, an office needs three layers of protection, advises employment law attorney Peter T. Mavrick of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. They are: A handbook, A procedure for progressive discipline, and Candid reviews. With those three elements in place, the office is safe from just about any type of EEOC claims. Here's what each … [Read more...] about Protect your firm from costly EEOC claims with these three layers of protection
Compliance
Five dangers in dealing with harassment complaints
As with firing, the rules are well known, yet employers still fall into the common violations that spawn claims of sexual harassment, says management consultant Joseph Godwin of F&H Solutions Group in Asheville, NC. Here are five areas that warrant attention. 1. No, it's not sour grapes Don't dismiss any complaint, particularly one from a fired or demoted employee, as sour … [Read more...] about Five dangers in dealing with harassment complaints
How the FLSA’s updated rules regarding overtime affects your firm
By Sandra Hoyle-Smith, SPHR bio President Obama and Secretary Perez recently announced the publication of the Department of Labor's final rule updating the overtime regulations, which will automatically extend overtime pay protections to over 4 million workers within the first year of implementation. What does this mean for you? Between now and December 1st, you will … [Read more...] about How the FLSA’s updated rules regarding overtime affects your firm
How a comment about wages can lead to a costly retaliation claim
A retaliation claim is expensive to defend and even more expensive to lose. And it's easy for employees to file one in matters related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which covers wage and hour law. In the past, a retaliation claim for complaining about pay and hours was valid only if the employee put the complaint in writing. However, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling says … [Read more...] about How a comment about wages can lead to a costly retaliation claim
EEOC issues final rules on employer wellness programs
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, has issued final rules that describe how Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) apply to wellness programs offered by employers that request health information from … [Read more...] about EEOC issues final rules on employer wellness programs
Changes to watch for in disability and absence management
Employee leave continues to undergo change and become increasingly complex. Although several regulations, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act and Amendments Act (ADA/AA), have been in place for several years, legal interpretation and application are subject to ongoing clarification. Meanwhile, regulatory initiatives under the … [Read more...] about Changes to watch for in disability and absence management
Buried by paper? Time to crawl out and go digital
In a report dated August 9, 2012, Linda A. Halliday, the Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations of the Department of Veterans Affairs, called for immediate action to address the “Risks Associated with Veterans Claims Folder Storage, Building Integrity, and Employee Safety at the Winston-Salem VA Regional Office.” In her report, Ms. Halliday described thousands … [Read more...] about Buried by paper? Time to crawl out and go digital
Schedule employee vacations for maximum efficiency and minimum conflict
Ah, vacation. A time synonymous with sun, fun, and relaxation—unless of course you're the manager of a busy legal practice trying to create the office vacation schedule. Yes, staff members need, want, and okay, deserve time off, but how do you plan for vacations without adding stress to your calendar and causing employee conflict? Granting time off How much time off employees … [Read more...] about Schedule employee vacations for maximum efficiency and minimum conflict
Five employment law questions that crop up in just about every office
Here are five employment law questions on five unrelated topics. They are answered by attorney and employee relations consultant Jodi Eisenstadt. 1. To tell or not to tell How should the manager respond when a staffer brings in information about a legal violation in the office and asks the manager not to tell anybody? That's a common problem for managers who have come up … [Read more...] about Five employment law questions that crop up in just about every office
Watch out for federal and state laws when promoting your practice on social media and websites
Social media can be useful for getting a practice's name out there and helping potential clients find you. But there are legal and ethical issues raised by use of social media. Federal and state laws are also implicated when a law office decides to promote its services whether it be through establishing a website or participating in forums such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. … [Read more...] about Watch out for federal and state laws when promoting your practice on social media and websites