Drug and AlcoholSafety and Health  

Think twice when conducting post-accident drug testing on employees

The Question: Our employee reported that he was injured on-the-job today, but we don’t yet know the nature of the incident or who (if anyone) was at fault. Our standard procedure is to send him for a drug test immediately. Can we do so?

Safety and Health  

ALERT: OSHA extends electronic filing deadline to December 15, 2017

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced that it is postponing its December 1, 2017, deadline for electronic filing of summary injury and illness data, to December 15, 2017. OSHA’s electronic reporting requirement currently applies to employers in Idaho, Oregon, and Montana. Employers in California and Washington don’t have to…

Q&AHarassment & Discrimination

Q&A: When does “creepy” cross the line into sexual harassment?

The Question: A manager told me that two female employees raised concerns about a male employee who was being “creepy”; they said he stood too close to them and made them feel uncomfortable. The manager asked them to report it to HR, but they haven’t come to see me. It doesn’t seem like I have enough to launch a formal investigation. What can I do in this situation?

Q&ADisabilitySafety and HealthTermination & Resignation  

Q&A: Accommodate for Questionable Religious Belief?

Question: We recently instituted a no-beard policy to ensure that men can securely wear their required safety masks. However, one of our Muslim employees refused, citing the Prophet Muhammad. I’ve studied the Quran, and I know that it doesn’t require beards. Can we discipline or fire him for not shaving?

Q&ADisabilityLeave Laws  

What to do after an employee’s FMLA leave expires

Question: We have an employee who took 12 weeks of FMLA leave because of her own serious health condition. Her leave is now expired but she still isn’t able to return to work. Can we terminate her employment since she doesn’t have any FMLA leave left?

Leave LawsWage and Hour  

How does Washington’s paid sick leave law apply to truck drivers?

Q: Is there an exemption from Washington’s paid sick leave law for truck drivers? If not, how do we comply with Washington’s paid leave requirement of providing 1 hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked when we pay our truck drivers in Washington on a cents per mile basis, rather than hourly?

Safety and HealthWorkers’ Comp  

Why Vigilant Retro? Cutter & Buck’s HR Manager, Andrea, tells us why

Claims Support, Safety & Employment Law Part 1 of a Conversation with Andrea McAuliff, Human Resources Manager at Cutter & Buck, about her Experience with Vigilant’s Workers’ Compensation Retro Program   Why does Cutter & Buck participate in Vigilant’s Workers’ Compensation Retro Group? First of all, we get great support from Vigilant and second, the complexity of Washington L&I can be…

OREGON Q&A: What happens when Veterans Day falls on a Saturday?

Question: Under Oregon law, we know that veterans have the right to take Veterans Day off if they request it. This year Veterans Day (November 11) falls on a Saturday and we don’t normally work on weekends. Do we have to allow a veteran employee to take a different day off in observation of Veterans Day?

Workers’ Comp  

PPD Claim Vigilance Saves Retro Group Members More Than $700,000

Attention to Detail Pays Off with PPD Claim Savings Vigilant’s Due Diligence Saves More Than $700,000 in Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Claim Costs   One of the many ways Vigilant helps save money for our Workers’ Compensation Retro Group members is by reviewing each PPD case thoroughly and making sure all the information is correct and…