Just in time for flu season, OSHA has information for employers and employees about how to reduce the spread of the flu in workspaces. Tips for employers include: promoting vaccination, encouraging sick workers to stay home, promoting hand hygiene and cough etiquette, and keeping the work place clean. More information may be found here: https://www.osha.gov/dts/guidance/flu/index.html… Continue reading OSHA Guidance on Workplace Safety and the Flu
Month: November 2013
DOL Action Reminds Employers Not to Misclassify Employees as Independent Contractors
Do you use independent contractors in your business? Have you done any analysis to confirm that the individuals you call independent contractors are not employees? Regardless of your answer, a recent Department of Labor announcement is a reminder that correcting employee misclassification continues to be priority for the DOL. The DOL announcement concerns a partnership… Continue reading DOL Action Reminds Employers Not to Misclassify Employees as Independent Contractors
Who Knew Dolphins Were Bullies
Recent allegations of bullying and hazing of a Miami Dolphin rookie player by a veteran player, serve as a reminder to employers to consider whether their workplace could benefit from an anti-bullying policy. Bullying is not only bad for morale, but can often form the basis of legal claims for harassment and discrimination, and if… Continue reading Who Knew Dolphins Were Bullies
More Information about City of Portland Sick Leave Ordinance
Here is a link to the e-alert we sent today about the Final Administrative Rules for the City of Portland Sick Leave Ordinance. http://www.sussmanshank.com/employment-ealert-portland-issues-final-rules-for-city-of-portland-sick-leave-ordinance
New OSHA Proposed Rule to Improve Tracking Workplace Injuries
Today OSHA issued a proposed rule to improve workplace safety and health through the “collection of useful, accessible, establishment-specific injury and illness data.” Generally, the new rule will require covered employers to submit injury and illness information electronically on a quarterly basis and to submit the information from OSHA’s annual summary form (Form 300A) electronically. … Continue reading New OSHA Proposed Rule to Improve Tracking Workplace Injuries
Employer Cannot Steer Women to Lower Paying Jobs
A recent settlement announced by the Department of Labor is a reminder that employers cannot assign employees to different jobs with different pay rates on the basis of gender. The employer, a federal contractor, was found to have a practice of assigning female employees to “light duty” jobs that paid less than the “heavy duty”… Continue reading Employer Cannot Steer Women to Lower Paying Jobs
Religious Accommodation – Just in Time for the Holidays
UPS recently paid $70,000 to settle a claim based its alleged failure to accommodate an employee who asked to change his schedule to attend an annual religious service and its termination of the employee a few days after he asked to change his schedule. The EEOC alleged that UPS’ actions constituted religious discrimination. Under Title VII,… Continue reading Religious Accommodation – Just in Time for the Holidays
Oregon Federal Court Analyzes Religious Hostile Environment Claim
In a recent case decided in the Oregon District Court, Judge Michael Mosman looked at the standards for hostile environment liability in a religious discrimination case. The plaintiff alleged that she was subject to a hostile work environment because of her religion. The defendant employer sought summary judgment on the grounds that the plaintiff did not… Continue reading Oregon Federal Court Analyzes Religious Hostile Environment Claim
