Employment Law
Employment Law
Employment Law
Avoid Discrimination in Your Dress Code
When customers see your company’s employees, they gather impressions about your business. That’s one reason to exercise some control over what staff members can wear to work and what grooming standards they must follow. Obviously, you want your staff to reflect competence and professionalism. Consistent Application is Key Quantum Electronics had a dress code which […]
Employment Law
Polygraph Tests: Use With Caution
If you suspect that an employee has committed an illegal act, don’t make plans to conduct a lie detector test unless there are special circumstances. To Tell the Truth:Grounds for Lie Detector Tests Under the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA), one of the exceptions to the ban on lie detector tests involves continuing investigations of […]
Employment Law
Be Careful When Setting Up an ‘English-Only’ Policy
When your company’s staff is culturally diverse, it may be tempting to require all employees to speak only English during work hours. After all, it might seem easier to promote unity and teamwork when everyone speaks the same language. But is it legal? This is a confusing area, but one that is becoming increasingly important […]
Employment Law
The Aging Workforce: DOs and DON’Ts to Avoid Discrimination
The changing demographics in the United States and the desire of some Baby Boomers to work longer than earlier generations has led to more older employees in the workforce. That has led to thousands of claims of age discrimination being filed against employers with the EEOC. Consider that in fiscal year 2019, the EEOC received […]
Employment Law
Nip Retaliation in the Bud
It’s the workplace version of road rage: An employee claims harassment or discrimination by a supervisor. The manager denies the charge and says the employee is a troublemaker. In the interests of peace, the company transfers the complainant to another job. Next thing you know, the firm is slapped with a lawsuit charging that it […]
Employment Law
Keep an Eye on Employee Texting, Blogging, Twittering and More
Employers naturally want to provide employees with the tools that enable them to do their jobs more quickly and efficiently. But there are growing concerns in the business community about employees who use technology in ways that can harm their employers. Blogging Can Lead to Disclosing Confidential Information Although blogs that are set up by […]
Employment Law
Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Program: 12 Facts You May Not Know
The Dodd-Frank Act, which was signed into law in 2010, provides substantial rewards to individuals who report corporate fraud to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Employees and others have strong incentives to blow the whistle on companies they suspect of violating federal securities laws. Despite the fact the law has been in existence for several […]
Employment Law
Manage Risks When Terminating an Employee
Terminating or disciplining an employee is fraught with legal, compliance and safety issues. In the worst case scenario, violence can occur. When workplace “violence comes from an employee or someone close to an employee, there is a much greater chance that some warning sign will have reached the employer in the form of observable behavior. […]
Employment Law