Safety/Health

OSHA on a roll, penalizing 85 covid violators

10/22/2020

Since March, OSHA has fined and sanctioned 85 companies for covid-related safety and health violations. Total cost to employers so far: more than $1.2 million.

Coronavirus and employment law: 8 new answers for HR

10/15/2020

As employers have asked for clarity on some finer points of the EEOC’s COVID-related rules, the EEOC recently issued a new round of guidance. Here are eight highlights.

Restarting business travel? Plan for COVID hurdles

10/15/2020

Business travel during the pandemic is complicated and carries several restrictions and employment law considerations.

‘Take home’ coronavirus suits bring new risk

10/08/2020

When employees contract covid-19 at work, their illnesses or deaths are usually covered by a state workers’ compensation system. But an employer can end up paying millions of dollars if a jury concludes a relative contracted covid-19 from a worker who got sick because the employer wasn’t following workplace safety precautions.

Returning to work & rethinking the workplace: Survey your employees with these 12 questions

10/02/2020

As organizations welcome employees back into the workplace during the pandemic, many are using return-to-work surveys to gauge their employees’ hopes and fears—and help plan for the future look of their workplace.

When vaccine is out, can you (should you) require it?

09/17/2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the EEOC issued guidance that addressed this question.

California rules offer return-to-work model

09/17/2020

One key question vexing employers: When can employees who have had covid-19 safely return to work? If your state doesn’t offer clear rules, consider following the best practices spelled out in California’s new return-to-work rules.

Ensure diagnostic apps protect worker privacy

09/10/2020

An attempt by New York City to keep municipal employees from spreading the coronavirus has prompted a union local to file an unfair labor practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.

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.

WFH: Know what counts as work-related injury, illness

08/27/2020

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration opinion letter issued way back in 2009 sheds light on a contemporary problem: When does an injury suffered by a remote employee at home count as a workplace injury?