Archive for the ‘Workplace Privacy, Health and Safety’ Category
JULY 1, 2015 DEADLINE IS APPROACHING
Do You Know Where Your Company’s California-Required Paid Sick Leave Policy Is? We have been blogging for some months about California’s new mandatory paid sick leave requirements. Choosing from one or more of several options, all employers in this state must adopt a policy by July 1, 2015. See, Mandatory Paid Sick Leave For California […]
NEW HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION MEASURES NOW IN PLACE
New heat illness prevention regulations have been adopted by the California Office of Administrative Law. They are in effect as of May 1, 2015. Our earlier blog, Heat Illness Prevention Amendments Are Likely to Take Effect May 1, 2015 provides details of what the new regulations require. The new regulation applies to all outdoor places […]
NEW CA LABOR LAWS TIGHTER RULES ON PERSONNEL RECORDS
Beginning January 1, 2013, amendments to California Labor Code 1198.5 significantly increased employer obligations and a worker’s rights to access and obtain copies of his or her personnel records. While the statute continues to confirm that every employee “has the right to inspect the personnel records that the employer maintains relating to the employee’s performance […]
NEW CA LABOR LAWS 2013 SOCIAL MEDIA PRIVACY FOR EMPLOYEES AND JOB APPLICANTS
California Labor Code 980, effective January 1, 2013, prohibits employer access to its workers’ personal social media. The new law defines “social media” as “an electronic service or account, or electronic content, including but not limited to, videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant and text messages, email, online services or accounts, or Internet […]
EMPLOYEE MEAL AND REST PERIODS
Are California Employers Responsible if Workers Skip Them? California companies must provide non-union workers with at least a 30 minute unpaid meal break between shifts and at least a ten minute paid break during each shift. See, “Employee Meal Periods and Rest Breaks, California’s Basic Requirements for R&R,” April 8, 2011. However, even though the […]
BREAKING OUT OF OFFICE ROUTINES
Enhancing Employee Morale and Productivity with Workforce Competitions In the never-ending quest to promote worker morale on the job, employers are offering an expanding range of clearly creative outlets and opportunities to escape workplace stresses. A search around the web will reveal, for example: Inter-office Chess Competition: this U.K. insurance company holds seasonal team battles […]
DISABILITY AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE POLICIES
Keeping Up with Changing Employment Laws A recent California Employer Daily article touches on an important employment law subject — the unanticipated pitfalls HR managers and employers face, including from the shifts and refinements in the state and federal leave laws. Key leave laws—the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family […]
DEFINING EMPLOYEE PRIVACY
When Does Legitimate “Need-to-Know” Cross the Line? Businesses have valid interests in accessing potentially sensitive employee information as long as that access is reasonably necessary to maintain workplace safety and security. On the other hand, companies must respect worker privacy on matters that are irrelevant to administration and operations. Clear, comprehensive written policy is essential […]
PRAYER MEETINGS IN THE WORKPLACE
More on Accommodating Employees’ Religious Beliefs As our planet’s civilizations and cultures continue to combine and intertwine, the importance of workplace respect for diverse religious backgrounds also grows. For the increasing number of business owners and managers that seek to include or permit religious prayer sessions or other observances on the work premises, an understanding […]
ACCOMMODATING RELIGION IN THE WORKPLACE
Avoid the Employment Discrimination Gallows As religious diversity in the American workplace increases, so does the importance of management’s understanding how to address conflicts that arise. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), responsible for enforcing the federal law prohibiting discrimination in commerce has recently published a guide to help employers with the task (“Questions and […]