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Sep 05 2025
DisabilityPrivacy & Confidentiality

Q&A: Keep medical info confidential even if employee doesn’t

Question: An employee told most of his coworkers about his recent diagnosis of a serious health condition, then came to HR to request adjustments to his schedule and work duties while undergoing treatment. HR emailed the employee’s medical records to his supervisor, along with an explanation of the specific accommodations the employee needs. Now the…

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Aug 07 2025
Privacy & ConfidentialityQ&ASafety and Health

Q&A: Consider whether your company will allow smart glasses

Question: We have an employee who started wearing a pair of “smart” eyeglasses to work. We only found out because he showed his peers some pictures he took while working. We have a policy that prohibits cell phones on the production floor for this very reason. His glasses are prescription. Can we still ban them?…

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Nov 16 2023
Harassment & DiscriminationPrivacy & ConfidentialityQ&A

Q&A: Internal management communications aren’t confidential

Question: For weeks our management team has been trading internal emails discussing why we need to terminate an employee who isn’t meeting performance standards. In the most recent email thread, one manager said that he wants to move more quickly to fire the employee because the employee reported workplace harassment a few days ago and…

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May 18 2023
DisabilityEmployee BenefitsLeave Laws

WASHINGTON: Governor signs 2023 legislation

The 2023 legislative regular session ended on April 23, 2023, with Washington Governor Jay Inslee signing multiple employment-related bills into law. Please see our separate articles in today’s newsletter on two of those bills, “WASHINGTON: New bill limits most pre-employment cannabis tests” (regarding ESSB 5123) and “WASHINGTON: Employers must notify warehouse employees of quotas” (regarding…

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Apr 20 2023
Privacy & ConfidentialitySafety and HealthWage and Hour

Q&A: Set expectations for social media use to protect confidentiality

Question: I just found out that employees are using their personal cell phones at work to snap and share pictures, in response to randomly timed daily prompts from an app called “BeReal.” Our policy prohibits cell phone use during work time unless it’s necessary for the job. Our manufacturing employees are only allowed to use…

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Apr 07 2022
Harassment & DiscriminationPrivacy & ConfidentialityWage and Hour

WASHINGTON: 2022 legislature limits confidentiality agreements

On March 24, 2022, Governor Jay Inslee signed into law ESHB 1795, which prohibits employers from requiring a prospective, current, or former employee (or an independent contractor) to sign any agreement that prevents the disclosure of alleged discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual assault, wage and hour violations, or conduct that is recognized as against a clear…

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Oct 21 2021
COVID-19DisabilityPrivacy & Confidentiality

Q&A: HIPAA doesn’t apply to employee information

Question: We implemented a mandatory COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine policy for all employees. Some employees are refusing to produce proof of vaccination status because they believe they have the right to refuse under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We’re a private employer operating a manufacturing facility. Does HIPAA apply to us? Answer: No….

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Apr 15 2021
COVID-19CaliforniaDisability

CALIFORNIA: CCPA privacy notice expands to include vaccine records

We recently expanded our model data privacy notice under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) of 2018 to include vaccination records and disclosures to third parties who have a business need to know the information. See our newly revised Model Form, Notice of Data Privacy for Employees and Applicants, for example language. As we previously…

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Dec 20 2018
Harassment & DiscriminationPrivacy & ConfidentialityQ&A

Q&A: Know how to handle the aftermath of a harassment investigation

Answer: In this type of situation and environment, be mindful of potential retaliation. No matter how hard you try to keep the complaint and investigation process confidential, harassment complaints not only affect the employees directly involved, but tend to stir up tension within the workplace. Rights of Those Involved State and federal laws prohibit retaliation…

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May 15 2018
Harassment & DiscriminationPrivacy & ConfidentialityWashington

New Washington laws limit harassment nondisclosure agreements

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has signed two new laws intended to encourage public disclosure and discussion of sexual harassment in the workplace. Both of these laws take effect on June 7, 2018. #1: Substitute Senate Bill 6313 Substitute Senate Bill 6313 makes an employment agreement void and unenforceable if it requires an employee to: (a)…

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Jan 16 2018
Privacy & ConfidentialityQ&A

Q&A: Knowing who is authorized to receive your legal documents can prevent lawsuits

Answer: Maybe. The first step is to figure out who was formally served with the initial lawsuit documents, if anyone, and what happened to them from there. Every company is required to designate a specific “registered agent” who is authorized to receive service of legal documents on behalf of the company. Companies may also be…

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Jul 18 2017
Privacy & ConfidentialityQ&A

Think twice before telling the truth about former employees

A: Not so fast! A signed release seems like a golden ticket to share your true feelings and frustrations about a former employee, but the release may not actually protect you. That’s what an Indiana medical clinic recently found out the hard way. In this situation, the clinic settled an EEOC claim with a former…

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