Do I Have to Provide Employees Time Off to Vote?
Voting is a basic right in the United States, but do employers have to provide time off to allow employees to exercise that right? As with many answers in human resources, “It depends.”
Tag Archive for: legal trends
Posts
How To Follow ACA Reporting Requirements & Avoid Penalties
Many organizations struggle to understand if they are following the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting standards correctly while others are not aware that they need to report in the first place. If you aren’t in compliance with ACA reporting requirements, each employee represents a potential fine. These fines can range from hundreds to millions of dollars—easy enough to bankrupt a smaller organization.
Federal Employment Poster Requirements for On-Site and Remote Workers
HR Question: I keep receiving notices that I need to order new posters to meet federal employment poster requirements. Many of my employees aren’t in the office regularly and those that are don’t look at the posters or any of the compliance documents we are required to distribute. What’s the risk if we don’t post […]
How to Handle Unemployment Fraud?
HR Question: Our company is getting unemployment notices for people that have never worked here, or in some cases, people who are still employed. How should I handle this unemployment fraud? HR Answer: The increasing level of unemployment fraud has been a source of frustration for states, employers, and individual employees. Various US congressional packages […]
How Long Should We Keep Resumes and Applications?
We’re doing some end-of-year filing and record cleanup. How long do we need to keep resumes and applications?
What Do I Have to Know Before Filing My EEO-1 Report?
HR Question: What is an EEO-1 Report and how do I know if I am required to file one? HR Answer: As defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the EEO-1 Report is an annual mandatory data collection of demographic workforce data, such as race/ethnicity, gender, and job categories. The window for the 2022 […]
Why Do I Need An Employee Handbook?
HR Question: Why do I need an Employee Handbook? Are they required? HR Answer: While it is not a requirement to have an employee handbook, having one can be an effective tool for you to communicate expectations throughout your organization. The employee handbook can be a quick reference for commonly asked questions such as […]
Marijuana in the Workplace
HR Question: Now that Issue 2, legalizing recreational marijuana in Ohio, has passed, what does it mean for my employment policies? Does this mean my drug-free workplace policies are no longer valid? How should I navigate marijuana in the workplace? HR Answer: Medical marijuana was legalized in Ohio in September 2016, and retail sales began […]
Can you be an Employee and Independent Contractor for the Same Company?
HR Question: Can an individual that is working for us be both an employee AND an independent contractor? HR Answer: According to IRS guidelines, it is possible to have a W-2 employee who also performs work as a 1099 independent contractor. For example, it is possible that an individual could work part of the year […]
How To Handle Drug and Alcohol Abuse in the Workplace
HR Question: I am part of our HR team, and a supervisor approached me because they suspect one of their employees may be drunk or on some type of drug that is inhibiting their performance. We have a policy prohibiting workplace drug and alcohol abuse that allows us to test if we have reasonable suspicion. […]
Can I Fire Someone During Their Introductory Period?
HR Question: Can I fire someone during their introductory period? Are there ways to reduce our risk? HR Answer: The short answer can be yes. As long as an employer has a properly written (and implemented) introductory period, there should be little concern over terminating someone during their new hire period. In fact, sometimes it […]
Why Is Harassment Training Important?
HR Question: Do I really need to provide harassment training? Isn’t having an anti-harassment policy sufficient? HR Answer: While it’s definitely a great place to start, having an anti-harassment policy isn’t enough. It’s crucial to ensure that your entire team is on the same page when it comes to definitions, expectations, and consequences surrounding harassment […]
At-Will Employment Termination Risks
HR Question: We’ve got a team member who just isn’t working out. The problem is we haven’t taken all of the right steps in documenting the issues, but we’re an at-will employer – can’t we just terminate anyway? What are the risks of at-will employment termination? HR Answer: The term “Employment At-Will” is a familiar […]
Do I Need a Heat Safety Plan? How Do I Build One?
HR Question: As an employer, I understand it’s my responsibility to take precautions when employees work outside in the heat. Additionally, I learned that OSHA is now conducting Heat Safety Inspections. Do I need a heat safety plan? If so, how do I build one? HR Answer: As summer heats up and the temperatures rise […]
What is Equal Pay Day?
HR Question: I keep seeing information about “Equal Pay Day” during Women’s History Month. What is Equal Pay Day, and how can I recognize it in my organization? HR Answer: Equal Pay Day is a symbolic day that puts into perspective the 23% pay gap between a woman and a man in the same role. Based […]
What is the Value of Job Descriptions?
HR Question: Do I really need job descriptions for my employees? Are they legally required? We have a small staff and everyone has to be willing to do everything. What is the value of having job descriptions? HR Answer: No, job descriptions are not legally required documents, however, they can help your employees (and their […]
Why Is It Important To Get An Employee’s Signature?
Have you ever had an employee question an employment agreement or say they didn’t mean to agree to a term of their employment? Why is it so important to get an employee’s signature? This is a critical question for all employers, and the answer applies to more than just employment agreements! At its root, a […]
Are Employee Gift Cards Considered Taxable Benefits?
HR Question: To thank my employees for their extra efforts, I have provided them with a $50 gift card. Accounting is telling me I have to report the value of the gift cards as taxable benefits. Is that true? HR Answer: Yes, it’s true! According to the IRS, cash, gift certificates, and gift cards are […]
How To Determine If A Home Office Injury Is Covered By Workers’ Compensation
HR Question: Our company has agreed to allow employees to work a hybrid schedule, allowing them to work from home on multiple days during the week. Although this has been very well received by employees, we have seen an increase in the number of injuries from employees working from home. How do I know if […]
Do Our Remote, Out-of-State Employees Qualify for FMLA?
HR Question: Our company has employees located in Ohio who all qualify for the protections covered under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), but we also have employees working remotely in other states. Do our remote, out-of-state employees qualify for our FMLA policy? HR Answer: Great question. Even if the employees don’t fall within the […]
Compensating Employees for Travel Time
Question: We have employees who occasionally have to travel from one of our offices to another during their work day. Are we required to pay them for their travel time? Answer: This is a very common situation, and the quick answer is it depends. Exempt employees generally are not entitled to additional compensation for travel […]
What Should I Consider Before Doing a Reduction in Force?
HR Question: I may need to restructure my workforce as a result of the downturn in business activity. What should I consider from a fairness and legal standpoint? HR Answer: Determining the need for a Reduction in Force (RIF) is a challenging decision to make, but it is sometimes necessary to keep the business running […]
What Should Ohio Employers Know About Marijuana in the Workplace?
Question: As an Ohio employer, can you help me understand how marijuana legalization fits into our employment policies? Answer: You are not alone in trying to navigate the everchanging state of marijuana legalization. A growing number of states have either passed laws, or are considering legislation, to ease restrictions on employees’ use of marijuana for […]
What is a Certificate of Qualification for Employment?
HR Question: This week a hiring manager was excited about a candidate but learned during an interview that the candidate has had a Felony for theft. The candidate mentioned having an Ohio Certificate of Qualification for Employment that they could provide. Although we are not a bank and the role does not handle money, we […]
