Feb
01
2017
Do we have to give FMLA leave to remote employees?
Q: Are our employees that work remotely, in homes that are more than 75 miles from our nearest location, eligible for FMLA?
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News, trends and analysis in employment law, HR, safety & workers' comp
Jan
24
2017
Should we appeal a Marketplace employer notice issued under the ACA?
We received a Marketplace notice in the mail, stating that one of our employees has enrolled in medical insurance coverage from the Marketplace and reported she was not offered health coverage from us. We admit that she wasn’t offered insurance, but only because she works 25 hours per week. Do we need to appeal the employer notice?
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Jan
09
2017
Q&ALeave Laws
Oregon Sick Leave law: Are we required to provide more time off?
Q: We give employees the choice of whether to apply paid time to sick leave absences or hold on to it for vacation. Several employees used up all of their protected leave for vacation, but now they’re calling in sick. Do we have to give them more time off for sick leave or can we count the absence under our attendance policy?
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Jan
03
2017
Can we deduct from a final paycheck for a missing laptop?
Q: We recently had to terminate a remote employee and he has refused to return his laptop. Can we take the cost of the laptop out of his final paycheck?
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Dec
27
2016
Q&A: Can employers prohibit supervisory level employees from discussing wages?
Question: We have a supervisor who won’t stop talking about his wages; can we stop him from doing this?
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Nov
14
2016
Q&A: Are employees’ social media posts on wages and safety protected?
Question: All our employees make more than minimum wage, but we had an employee go on social media and say, “Minimum wage for this work?! How are we supposed to live off that?!” A number of other employees commented on the post and a few complained about a recent safety incident. Can we discipline the employee who lied about his pay? What can we do to address this?
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Nov
03
2016
Q&A: Do small businesses with some common ownership have to count combined employees for FMLA and other laws?
Question: I handle HR functions for four separate but related family-owned companies. Each company is fairly small, but altogether there are 65 employees. The companies have some overlapping ownership, but they aren’t owned by exactly the same people. Do I have to worry about family leave laws, since each company is well under the employee threshold to trigger coverage?
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Oct
24
2016
Q&A: Think twice before posting political signs at work
Question: Our company feels strongly about a measure on this year’s ballot. Can we distribute literature and post campaign posters on the issue?
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Oct
10
2016
Q&A: Do employees have the right to take time off to vote?
Q: Do we have to allow employees time off, either with or without pay, to go vote?
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Jul
08
2016
Q&AHiring
“Ban the Box”: Can I still ask applicants about criminal backgrounds in Oregon?
Question: Can Oregon employers still ask applicants if they have ever been convicted of a crime?
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