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Policies / Handbooks

Contracts can’t rush ADA, ADEA deadlines

01/28/2021
Check your handbook for language that sets premature deadlines for employees to file discrimination complaints under the ADA and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Anything less than the time frames set out in the laws is unenforceable, a federal appeals court has ruled. In most cases, that is 300 days.

DOL has new rules for electronic posters

01/05/2021
The government-mandated posters that adorn breakroom bulletin boards in workplaces nationwide don’t do much good when employees are working from home. That’s why the Department of Labor just issued new field guidance on how employers should inform employees about their rights.

Develop a legal, fair and effective coronavirus vaccination policy

12/28/2020
Employers may require employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus in order to keep their jobs, according to just-released EEOC guidance. However, they must be prepared to make exceptions.

Complicated vaccine questions for employers

12/21/2020
As COVID vaccines become more widely available in the coming months, employers have big questions to answer: Should they require it for all employees? What if employees refuse? Are the vaccines covered cost-free under your group health plan?

In the weeds: 5 more states legalize cannabis

11/24/2020
Voters in Arizona, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota approved ballot measures last month legalizing marijuana, adding to the patchwork of laws that employers must follow. Medical use of marijuana is now legal in 36 states, while 15 allow recreational use.

Expect pressure to relax grooming standards

11/19/2020
United Parcel Service, with 525,000 employees, just became one of the largest employers to embrace more relaxed grooming standards. The change comes as more locales enact laws based on model legislation known as the Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair Act.

8 questions office managers must address before return-to-work

11/07/2020
Before a possible influx of employees back into the office, make sure you’ve begun to explore solutions to the following dilemmas.

Defeat bias lawsuits with well-crafted policies

09/10/2020
One of the best ways to beat employee allegations that they were disciplined or fired because of discrimination: Show the court you have comprehensive policies on discipline that you enforce consistently.

Vaccines: Prepare for flu season—and beyond

09/01/2020
The coronavirus pandemic has thrown our usual work scenarios into chaos, and now another, more familiar, health risk is looming: the fall influenza season. If you don’t usually encourage employees to get flu shots, consider starting now.

5 dangerous omissions from your employee handbook

08/29/2020
How many of the following aspects of an effective employee handbook are unfortunately on your list of “to-dos,” and represent dangerous omissions that could catch you off guard?