Workers must be able to de-escalate situations before they become heated and possibly violent, a recent client told us. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many companies are requiring customers and employees alike to wear face masks. Walmart announced July 15 that face masks would be mandatory for customers, signaling the start of a widespread requirement…

Read More

Although the 2020 EEO-1 deadline was extended due to the pandemic, contractors and subcontractors who have a current contract covered by the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) or had a contract as of January 1, 2020, must file a VETS-4212 report by September 30, 2020. The filing database is now open. Contractors should file as early as…

Read More

Par Ventures, Inc., a North Carolina corporation that operates seven McDonald’s restaurants, has agreed to pay $12,500 to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit alleging that a teenage worker was subjected a sexually hostile work environment. EEOC alleged in a statement announcing the agreement that a “people manager” at one of the…

Read More

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued more guidance for workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities under federal leave and wage and hour laws. On July 20, the DOL added new questions and answers to pandemic-related issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and…

Read More

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has updated certain optional Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) forms that employers and workers can use to coordinate leave requests. The department is also requesting input from the public to improve FMLA regulations and administration. The DOL said the new forms are “simpler and easier for employees, employers,…

Read More

As the ADA approaches its 30th anniversary, we are taking a close look at employment issues affecting workers with disabilities. Stay tuned for related stories on recruiting, accommodations and more. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA prohibits a covered entity from discriminating against a qualified individual on the basis of disability in regard to employee compensation…

Read More

From government guidance to social distancing mandates, sources recommended such plans rely on strong principles but make room for flexibility. As workplaces reopen, employers will need to devise plans that follow strong principles. Such plans must also preserve flexibility, allowing employers to pivot when necessary. But what are those principles? And how can employers enact…

Read More

Fair compensation requires both awareness and action………… Most HR leaders have heard disheartening statistics about the gender pay gap. PayScale, for example, reported in its Gender Pay Gap Report for 2020 that women make only $0.81 for every dollar men make. And the World Economic Forum has estimated that it will take more than 100…

Read More