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Pennsylvania

Are there any occasions when it would be appropriate to ask about applicant’s religion?

12/01/2015
Q. When, if ever, can our company legally ask an applicant about his or her religious affiliation?

Is it OK to impose a salary cap?

12/01/2015
Q. Many of our employees have reached the top of the current pay scale. We just instituted a salary cap. The only employees affected are those with many years of service and are well into their 50s and beyond. Some of the affected employees are angry and say this is age discrimination.

Dauphin County bans the box

12/01/2015
Dauphin County has announced plans to join the ranks of municipalities that will no longer ask applicants about their criminal histories on job applications.

Pennsylvania bill would allow paying staff via debit cards

12/01/2015
A proposal by Pennsylvania State Sen. Don White, chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee, would allow employers to pay employees with debit cards rather than paychecks. The legislation would require granting employees free access to all of their wages.

Proof required to support discrimination claim

12/01/2015
Just because a fired worker and his boss are of different races doesn’t mean discrimination has occurred.

Petty annoyances aren’t reason enough to sue

12/01/2015
Some employees seem to believe they are owed a perfect workplace, free of all stress. They’re wrong.

Act fast to address employee’s request for ADA disability accommodation

12/01/2015
Never indefinitely delay addressing a disability accommodation request. In fact, you should make a decision as quickly as possible so the employee can’t accuse you of failure to accommodate through inaction.

Single comment not enough to form basis of discrimination lawsuit

12/01/2015
A single, isolated comment—especially if the speaker isn’t a co-worker or supervisor—isn’t sufficient grounds for alleging discrimination. Complaining about it doesn’t amount to protected activity.

How not to handle harassment against a man

12/01/2015
Consider this central Pennsylvania case that is going to trial soon. A judge has concluded that not only can a man be sexually harassed, but he may be due punitive damages for his suffering.

OK to require call-off, even with FMLA

12/01/2015
Employers are free to set neutral call-off policies that punish even FMLA-protected absences. Just make sure you enforce your rules fairly and consistently. Don’t punish some employees but not others.