Heat is a leading cause of death among all weather-related phenomena in the United States. And it’s a serious occupational hazard for many workers, both indoors and out. That’s why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed a new standard that would protect approximately 36 million...
Question: We have an employee no longer physically capable of their job. We have tried to accommodate, but the condition has not improved. Is there anything else we need to do before letting them go? Answer: The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure that...
Question: We have an information and technology policy that limits personal cell phone use at work. Can we expand it to include smartwatches? Answer: Yes, you can expand your policy to include wearables or other smart devices that might cause distractions to employees while working. Here...
Election Day is almost here, so now is a good time to brush up on voting leave laws and make sure you’re posting any mandatory notices. Voting Leave Most states require that employers provide at least a few hours off to vote, and sometimes those hours...
Question: We usually don’t mind employees chit-chatting while they work, but some recent politics-related conversations have gotten rather loud and heated. Can we tell employees not to discuss politics at work? Answer: You can limit political speech and associated conduct that are not work-related—provided you...
Since 1986, the federal government has required employers to complete I-9 forms for each worker. While many workplaces may feel like they are complying with this rule, this is rarely the case. Any mistakes on Form I-9 can lead to hefty fines, so it’s important...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification to extend the expiration date to 05/31/2027. Employers must use the Form I-9 with the edition date of 08/1/23, which may have an expiration date of either 07/31/2026 or 05/31/2027. Either form may be used until its...
Question: Our previous HR director was lax about policy enforcement, particularly around tardiness and dress code. What’s the best way to start enforcing these policies consistently? Answered: If possible, we recommend meeting with employees to inform them that, going forward, these policies will be uniformly enforced....
Question: Is there anything different we should do when terminating a remote employee? Answer: For the most part, no. Your termination process should look much the same. However, there are a few extra steps you may need to consider: If your employee is in a different...
Employee classifications are based on job duties and responsibilities. The classifications impact compensation, benefits and work hours; they are also used by employers to maintain compliance with labor laws. The most common classifications are exempt and nonexempt. Exempt employees are typically salaried workers who (a) are paid the same...