Policies / Handbooks

Prevention key to cutting harassment liability

08/29/2019

The best way to avoid liability for sexual harassment is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. That’s why it’s so important to educate supervisors on your sexual harassment policy.

McDonald’s strict grooming policy riles EEOC

08/01/2019

McDonald’s—the restaurant that pumps out carbon-copy burgers and unfailingly flawless fries—has found the limits of its exacting standards. People, it appears, cannot be packaged nearly so precisely.

How rigid can our dress code be about imposing grooming standards?

07/30/2019

Q. Can we require male employees to keep their hair short? Also, can we require male employees to shave their beards?

Anti-harassment policies evolving after #MeToo

07/30/2019

In a survey, 51% of companies reported reviewing their sexual harassment policies since the #MeToo movement emerged as a cultural and business force in the fall of 2017.

Marijuana policies up for grabs despite restrictive DEA rulings

07/09/2019

Twice in the last three years, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration has denied petitions to “reschedule” marijuana under the Controlled Sub-stances Act—despite a growing number of state initiatives to legalize it.

No cannabis testing for NYC employers starting in 2020

06/13/2019

If you are a New York City employer, now is the time to ensure your drug testing policies and job applications do not mention testing for marijuana or THC.

Ensure dress code allows for religious needs

06/11/2019

Your dress code must allow some leeway for religious exemptions. The EEOC takes religious discrimination seriously and has been aggressively going after employers that enforce dress codes that unnecessarily restrict employees’ faith-mandated attire.

Suspend attendance amnesty during FMLA

05/31/2019

Many employers let employees “work off” points they rack up for absenteeism and tardiness. A new federal court ruling says employers may stop the clock from ticking while an employee is out on FMLA leave.

New state lactation accommodation requirements may be coming to California

04/30/2019

California Senate Bill 142 would amend building codes to require new commercial buildings and those undergoing improvements costing over $1 million to include designated lactation spaces for employees.

Beware unreasonably tight deadlines for filing internal reports of sexual harassment

03/26/2019

The EEOC believes overly strict time limits tend to discourage reporting and absolve supervisors of responsibility for reporting. Plus, it may embolden harassers to repeat their harassment or escalate it.