Furloughs and layoffs are ways to reduce labor costs during times of economic hardship. They both involve a loss of work for employees, but there is a key difference between them. A furlough continues employment but reduces scheduled hours or requires a period of unpaid leave. Because the...
Question: An employee says their manager told them to lose their accent if they ever want to be promoted. Could this be considered discrimination? Answer: Yes. Discrimination based on national origin is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and includes treating applicants or...
Question: We’re not bound by any law requiring us to conduct background checks, but we choose to do them for all new hires. Should we also do them when we rehire an employee? Answer: It’s up to you. Conducting a background check when hiring a former...
Question: We’ve identified the job candidates we’d like to interview, but we still have applications coming in. Do we need to review all applications before moving forward with interviews and making a job offer? Answer: The short answer is no. There’s no legal requirement to review...
You would only update a Form I-9 if the expired document pertains to a limited period of employment authorization. You should never reverify U.S. citizens and, in most cases, lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders). However, if a lawful permanent resident presents their employer with...
Generally, no. The Americans with Disabilities Act restricts employers from asking medical questions of employees and protects the privacy of medical information. Asking about prescription medications would fall into the category of a medical-related inquiry and should only be done if job related and consistent...
Yes, you can store completed Forms I-9 electronically. However, per U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, any electronic storage system must include the following: Reasonable controls to ensure the system’s integrity, accuracy, and reliability. For instance, you would need to ensure that only authorized personnel have access...
As of February 6, 2024, Texas will prohibit employers of all sizes from adopting or enforcing a policy that requires applicants or employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, employers can’t take any adverse action against an employee or applicant for their refusal to be vaccinated...
OSHA Form 300A Workplace Posting Begins February 1 Employers that had 11 or more employees at any point in 2023 are required to post Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injury and Illnesses, from February 1 through April 30 unless...
Navigating the intricacies of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can be a daunting task for business owners, particularly when it comes to understanding whether your company falls under ACA’s purview. A key factor in determining ACA compliance is the employee count. This article aims to simplify...