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Q&A

No workers: Still need workers’ comp coverage?

10/27/2016
Q. My wife and I run our own business. Are we required to obtain workers’ compensation coverage even though we have no employees?

Must we continue health insurance when employees are out of work on leave?

10/27/2016
Q. Is our business required to continue to offer health benefits to our employees while they are out on family leave?

Do we need to accommodate a disabled contractor just like we would an employee?

10/17/2016
Q. We just hired a contractor for a special project. He has complained that he is sensitive to the smells in our office, which include personal fragrance, scent diffusers and “smelly” food. Since he isn’t our employee can we just tell him to put up with the odor?

How far do we have to go to accommodate employee’s migraine headaches?

10/17/2016
Q. Our receptionist gets occasional migraine headaches, and she gave us a long list of “triggers” that she wants us to eliminate at work. The list includes no fluorescent lights. We cannot afford to replace all of our fluorescent lights. Can we just say no?

Is use-it-or-lose-it vacation policy legal in Pa.?

10/07/2016
Q. Our company’s vacation policy says that terminated employees are not paid for vacation days that they accrued during their employment. Is that legal?

Can job offer be contingent on drug test?

10/07/2016
Q. Our Pennsylvania company wants to begin screening applicants for illegal drugs. Can we make job offers conditional on the results of a drug test?

What rights do employers have under Texas’s Open Carry Law? Can we ban guns at work?

09/29/2016
Q. We are a private business that would like to prohibit our employees and customers from carrying firearms inside our corporate premises. May we do so?

Must we grant time off for drug rehab in Texas?

09/29/2016
Q. An employee recently tested positive for drugs during a random drug screening that we periodically administer to ensure that our employees are able to safely operate our systems. The employee admitted that he regularly used drugs, and would like to take several weeks off to participate in a rehabilitation program. Does Texas law require us to grant him time off?

Is it true that California law requires us to give employees a way to work sitting down?

09/26/2016
Q. An employee recently complained that I was violating California’s “suitable seating law” by requiring him to stand throughout his shift. Am I required to let my employees sit?

He handles our money! Can we terminate employee who recently filed for bankruptcy?

09/26/2016
Q. I recently discovered that an employee who handles company money has filed for bankruptcy. My concern is that if he was unable to handle his own finances, he may be untrustworthy with company finances. Can I discharge this employee?