As an HR professional, you know that when employees request FMLA leave, those conversations need to be handled carefully. You have to stick to the facts about what the workers need and why. The problem is, some managers may not realize that — and their stray comments could come back to bite you in court. …
If you haven’t heard, the feds just released a new online tool that allows users to search its database and view trends on workplace injuries occurring in states covered by federal OSHA. At first glance, this might sound like a niche tool designed exclusively for safety professionals to, among other things, help them spot potential…
A federal appeals court upheld a jury verdict against an employer that denied an employee permission to move her start time back by one hour to accommodate her disability. A jury determined that the employer denied the employee a reasonable accommodation that she was entitled to receive under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The…
Bark If You’re Dirty, a pet store with locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, has agreed to pay $340,000 and provide additional relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of several female employees. Suit: Women Faced ‘Constant Sexual Harassment’ The EEOC’s lawsuit alleged that a…
OSHA has proposed more than $1 million in penalties against a Chicago countertop manufacturer that allegedly did not do enough to protect its workers from the danger presented by silica dust. The agency zeroed in on Florenza Marble & Granite for an inspection after learning that a 31-year-old employee there was in need of a…
California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has cited nine employers for silica health and safety violations in the greater Los Angeles area. Cal/OSHA has ramped up enforcement efforts to address the growing number of silicosis cases among stone workers, according to an agency press release. What is Silica and Why Is It Harmful?…
Even many veteran HR pros will admit that they are occasionally stumped by the intricacies of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Case in point: the “key employee” exception. Understanding when to employ this rarely used exception can help you reinforce the idea that HR can be a strategic business partner and deserves a…
The EEOC announced that an employer it targeted in a race bias suit will pay $1.25 million and take other significant steps to end the litigation. The defendant in the race bias suit was Asphalt Paving Systems, Inc., which is an asphalt paving company that has offices in Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Tennessee….
If your company requires employees to work mandatory overtime, it’s important to factor those extra hours into your calculations when determining employees’ FMLA entitlement. Failing to do so can be an expensive mistake, as an Eighth Circuit decision shows. That’s one of the key takeaways from Hernandez v. Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. Mandatory overtime Some…
