To what extent must an employer investigate allegations of sexual harassment? This question comes to the fore as a result of a recent episode of CBC’s The Fifth Estate, The Unmaking of Jian Ghomeshi, in which the Executive Director of Radio at CBC, Mr. Chris Boyce, defended his decision to ... Read More »

Beginning January 1, 2015, employers will need to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) new requirements for reporting employee fatalities and severe injuries. The new rule requires employers to report to OSHA all work-related fatalities within 8 hours and all work-related hospitalizations of one or more employees, ... Read More »

Employers who have been using E-Verify for more than 10 years must be aware that as of January 1, 2015, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be deleting any transaction records in the E-Verify system that are more than 10 years old.  As of January 1, 2015, employers will no ... Read More »

The price of movie tickets could be going up soon.  Under new proposed regulations issued by the Department of Justice, movie theaters with digital screens would be required to show  films with options for closed captioning (for hearing impaired patrons) and audio descriptions (for visually impaired patrons).  Movie theaters would ... Read More »

The process of discharging employees can be chaotic and emotional. However, if employers are proactive and prepared when the time comes, many hassles can be avoided down the road. Following are five prudent steps to take before discharging employees. Step #1: Review Documents Employers should review all relevant documents prior ... Read More »

Recently, OSHA announced that it would be lowering the burden of proof for whistleblower claim investigations from “reasonable cause” to a mere “preponderance of the evidence.” As a result, employees need only show that, more likely than not, there was an adverse employment action as a result of an OSHA complaint, ... Read More »

As fall open enrollment approaches, now is the time for Plan Sponsors to reevaluate their wellness programs and confirm that they comply with the regulations issued under the Affordable Care Act. The Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services have issued regulations governing the conditions of wellness programs ... Read More »

Reminder: EEO-1 Surveys Due To Be Filed By September 30th! Arizona:  In July, the Attorney General confirmed that the AZ smoking restrictions do not apply to e-cigs. California: Employers, get ready to start having to offer paid sick leave beginning July 1, 2015 if you aren’t already!  See our September ... Read More »

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published a proposed rule today covering the securement of unattended train equipment, largely codifying its Emergency Order 28 issued in 2013. Emergency Order 28 was issued in response to the Lac Megantic train disaster in Quebec, where an unsecured train carrying crude oil rolled down ... Read More »