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HR Management

Pandemic intensified worker substance abuse

05/21/2021
The number of employees reporting lower productivity or missed work due to substance abuse has “nearly doubled” since 2019, according to a new survey by Versta Research.

$136K COVID fine shows OSHA is in for the long haul

05/21/2021
In what appears to be the first company cited under OSHA’s new National Emphasis Program on COVID enforcement, a Massachusetts tax-prep company was hit with a $136,552 fine for, in part, prohibiting employees and customers from wearing face masks in the office during the statewide mask mandate last winter.

With new COVID laws & increased scrutiny, now’s the time to rewrite your PTO policy

05/21/2021
With an increased focus on employee leave in the public eye and new pandemic-related laws, companies with outdated paid time off policies could find themselves in messy legal situations. That makes now a good time to review and rewrite your PTO policies. Here are some issues to consider.

How to undo your WFH arrangements: 4 steps

05/21/2021
If your organization is preparing to call employees back into the workplace after a 15-month work-from-home COVID hiatus, it’s important to be aware of the potential legal risks. That includes dealing with workers who want to stay remote, either as a preference or as a legal accommodation.

Ongoing telework brings legal complexities

05/20/2021
Remote work is likely to continue long after the coronavirus crisis subsides. As you contemplate what post-pandemic work will look like, it’s important to recognize the complications inherent to permanent telework arrangements. Factor them into your decision making when setting new policies on remote work and hiring.

Report: Pandemic recovery will require retraining push

05/18/2021
As the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, millions of American workers—especially minority workers, women, youth and workers with lower educational attainment—will not only need new jobs, but also the training and opportunities to switch careers, according to a new report by the Conference Board business advisory nonprofit.

Revisit workplace mask policies in light of new CDC guidance

05/18/2021
Don’t rush to scrap your workplace masking and distancing rules solely on the basis of what the CDC says. In fact, OSHA remains the go-to safety authority for employers.

Snapshot: Only 8% of employers will require covid-19 vaccinations

05/18/2021
Few employers are leaning toward requiring employees to be vaccinated as a condition of returning to the workplace.

Be alert for covid-related negligence liability

05/13/2021
Most workplace-related covid-19 infection claims have been resolved through the workers’ compensation system, where employer liability is limited. But a handful of recent claims have made their way into court because they allege secondary infection of nonemployees. There is no limit on the dollar amount plaintiffs can seek in a negligence lawsuit.

Employers, employees may clash over return-to-work

05/13/2021
Employers continue to struggle with what post-pandemic work ought to look like, according to a new survey by the Littler Mendelson employment law firm. One of the most potentially significant problems: Employers and employees may disagree about plans for reopening workplaces after a year of working remotely.