September 9, 2019
Emergency planning can be integral to successful business contingencies
With Hurricane Dorian wreaking havoc on the Bahamas last week, it is a stark reminder of the vulnerability that communities and businesses face through the threat of inclement weather and natural disasters. Preparation and communication remain the constant theme for any business to successfully address inclement weather and natural disasters. Waiting until the weather or […]
September 2, 2019
As we celebrate Labor Day, employers should set clear expectations for safety and health
As Americans celebrate Labor Day, some people view the day as an end to summer, engaging with family and friends at the pool and hosting barbecues. While Labor Day for many simply represents a day off work, it was established as a federal holiday in 1894 as a tribute to the contributions of American workers, […]
August 26, 2019
New state law will require employers to provide detailed paystubs to employees on each regular pay date
During the last legislative session, Virginia lawmakers amended Virginia’s Wage Payment Law to include certain disclosures for employees. Effective Jan. 1, employers must provide “paystubs” to employees on “each regular pay date” to include certain information about an employee’s wages. While this might seem like something employers are already doing, some employers only provide employees […]
August 19, 2019
FMLA may allow an employee to attend certain school meetings for a child with serious health condition
It’s that time of the year when the children go back to school and young adults head to college. The change also includes parent demands that frequently impact the workplace. During this time of year, employers should be broad in their thinking, recognizing that dads and moms alike feel the overwhelming pressure of parental obligations. […]
August 11, 2019
Employers need to tighten up on their hiring process to avoid discrimination
A federal administrative law judge recently ordered Enterprise RAC Co. of Baltimore to pay more than $6.6 million in lost earnings and benefits to 2,336 African American applicants who the judge said were wrongfully denied employment in the company’s management trainee program. The ruling was based on a yearslong investigation and a lawsuit filed in […]
August 5, 2019
Does having grooming standards violate federal law?
Is it illegal to refuse to hire a person who cannot meet your company’s grooming standards due to a religious belief? In July, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued a McDonald’s franchise alleging that it refused to hire a job applicant who would not shave his beard because of his religious beliefs. The lawsuit claims […]
July 29, 2019
Is chivalry gone because of the #MeToo movement?
Participants in my harassment prevention training often ask about what they view as the death of chivalry — and whether men can even hold a door open for a woman since the #MeToo movement against sexual assault and harassment swept across the country. Training participants lament that their mothers taught them to treat women a […]
July 22, 2019
Workers in Virginia now are able to get access to some of their employment records
Employers in Virginia need to be aware of a new legal obligation that gives workers access to some of their employment records. Under a new state law that went into effect July 1, employers now must provide current and former workers with certain employment records upon written request. Before the passage of the new law, […]
July 16, 2019
Employers need to regularly review pay practices to make sure women and men are paid fairly and consistently
Sometimes it takes a big public win to prove the injustice in equal pay. Such is the case for the U.S. women’s soccer team who just won back-to-back World Cup championships. In 2016, the New Yorker Magazine wrote an article, “Equal Pay for Equal Play: The Case for the Women’s Soccer Team,” after five team […]
July 8, 2019
Applicants are not required to disclose a pregnancy before or after being offered a job
Terminating an employee after learning she is pregnant can lead to a federal lawsuit. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced in June that it filed suit against Cassone Leasing for pregnancy discrimination. It said that Cassone hired a woman who, unbeknownst to the company, was 12 weeks pregnant. After hiring her, she received a […]