Posted in Civil rights in the workplace, Employer Rights, News on January 30, 2014
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes discrimination based on certain characteristics in employment decisions illegal, including an employee’s or job applicant’s religious practices. Thus, employers may not choose whether or not to hire an applicant based on his or her religion, nor may they make other employment decisions, such as raises
... read more.Posted in Civil rights in the workplace, Employee Rights, Employer Rights, Employment Law, News on January 30, 2014
The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires covered employers to provide qualified employees with 12 unpaid days of leave from work during a 12 month period for certain purposes, such as the birth or adoption of a child or caring for an immediate family member with a serious health condition. Who Does the
... read more.Posted in Civil rights in the workplace, News on January 30, 2014
What is OSHA? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal body in charge of overseeing employer compliance with workplace health and safety regulations under the OSH Act. To ensure compliance with these regulations, OSHA sends out compliance officers to inspect job sites and investigate claims of dangerous and hazardous working conditions. OSHA
... read more.Posted in Civil rights in the workplace, Employer Rights, News on January 30, 2014
In some instances, employers may be held liable for the injuries and damages caused by those they employ. Generally, it will have to be proven that the employer knew or should have known that employee’s conduct could result in injury to a third party before an employer can be held liable for an employee’s acts.
... read more.Posted in Civil rights in the workplace, Employer Rights, Medical and Sick Leave, News on January 30, 2014
What is the Family and Medical Leave Act? Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a private employer with at least 50 employees is required to give qualified employees 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for certain medical and family reasons, such as the adoption or birth of a child or to care
... read more.Posted in Civil rights in the workplace, News on January 30, 2014
Although second-hand tobacco smoke is considered by many to be a health hazard, federal law generally does not require employers to provide smoke-free workplaces. However, local city or county laws can choose to regulate smoking laws in the workplace. A Smoke-Free Workplace Only in certain situations must an employer eliminate smoking from its facilities. For
... read more.Posted in Employer Rights, Employment Law, News on January 30, 2014
There is no legal requirement that employers perform formal performance reviews of employees, just as there is no general requirement that an employer have just cause to fire an employee. An employer may, however, be required by the terms of an employment contract, employee handbook, or collective bargaining (union) agreement to review an employee annually,
... read more.Posted in Civil rights in the workplace, News on January 30, 2014
All employers should have a written anti-harassment policy and a corresponding complaint and investigation procedure. Employers who do not have such a policy may open themselves up to liability in instances when a supervisor is charged with harassing an employee. Additionally, employees who have been the subject of harassment have a duty to report it
... read more.Posted in Employer Rights, News on January 30, 2014
An employer who receives a harassment complaint on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, race, national origin, age, religion or disability has an obligation under federal and state law to take immediate steps to investigate the complaint and then take prompt, appropriate remedial action. In most cases, this means the employer has a duty to
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