Ask the Attorney Archives

Q: Are there any payroll laws that prohibit an employer from offering a new job description with a lower wage in place of a layoff? – Kim, Pennsylvania

Q: We currently run background checks on all potential employees, and one particular offense/conviction for which we deny hiring is anything sexual in nature. We ran a background on a current employee (prior to hire, and everything returned clear). We have since received notification from another employee that the individual hired may have been convicted of a sexual offense after being hired. Can we legally run another background to verify? – Cortney, Texas

Q: I have a COBRA participant who is nearing the end of his 36-month maximum coverage period. What notices am I required to send him regarding coverage termination? – Cathleen, New Hampshire

Q: A young woman on our staff comes to work often with visible bruises, and last week a black eye. Her husband calls her frequently during the workday, sometimes as many as 10 times in one day. She always has a ready excuse for how the bruises happened. Several staff members have come to me voicing concern that she may be getting abused at home, and I have wondered the same thing myself. Her accuracy level is decreasing, she lacks focus, and is starting to miss work more often. Can I legally approach her and offer resources that are available in our area for battered women?  – Jeanne, Florida