Home » Blog

Vigilant Blog

News, trends and analysis in employment law, HR, safety & workers' comp

Recent posts

Aug 04 2022
DisabilityHarassment & DiscriminationQ&A

Q&A: Eliminating contact with a coworker unreasonable under ADA

Question: One of our employees requested a disability accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He suffers from anxiety and depression and his doctor recommended that he not have any interactions with a certain “hostile” coworker. Do we have to do this? Answer: Probably not, because courts generally don’t consider a request to avoid…

Read More
Aug 04 2022
Wage and Hour

Q&A: Don’t share wage data with competitors

Question: Our maintenance people keep getting picked off by other local companies. I can’t decide whether to write them a nastygram to stop poaching our employees, or try to find out what they’re paying so we can set our wages higher. Any thoughts? Answer: As frustrating as this is, both of those approaches could result…

Read More
Jul 21 2022
Wage and Hour

Q&A: Reimbursing employee expenses can be necessary

Question: Do we have to reimburse employees for expenses, and if so, which ones? Answer: Yes, there are times when employees must be reimbursed for expenses, but it depends on the expense you’re talking about and whether you’re dealing with less generous federal law or more generous state or local law. Under federal law, employers…

Read More
Jul 21 2022
COVID-19DisabilityHarassment & Discrimination

EEOC updates guidance on COVID-19 screening for employers

On July 12, 2022, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its technical assistance guidance regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These FAQs scale back the agency’s approval of mandatory COVID-19 screening measures and clarify several other COVID-19 related issues. Viral screening tests and “business necessity”: The EEOC now says…

Read More
Jul 07 2022
CaliforniaDrug and AlcoholHiring

CALIFORNIA: No pay due for applicants’ time to take drug tests

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that California employers aren’t required to compensate applicants for time and travel expenses required to undergo mandatory preemployment drug tests. A grocery store with locations in California offered jobs to applicants contingent on a successful background check and drug test. The company paid the drug testing…

Read More
Jul 07 2022
DisabilityDrug and AlcoholHiring

Q&A: Hiring before receipt of drug test and background check is risky

Question: Our company is struggling to find workers and keep operations running efficiently. All employment offers are conditioned on passing a preemployment drug screen and background check. We’ve been allowing new hires to start working before we receive the results from our third-party vendors. We just learned that an employee who has been working for…

Read More
Jul 07 2022
Affirmative ActionHarassment & DiscriminationTermination & Resignation

OFCCP posts more affirmative action settlements

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently posted another significant financial settlement with a federal contractor, arising out of a routine affirmative action audit. Without admitting liability, Becton, Dickinson and Company agreed to pay $499,349 in back pay and interest to resolve allegations that it discriminated against 125 female applicants at three locations in Nebraska. The…

Read More
Jul 07 2022
COVID-19CaliforniaSafety and Health

CALIFORNIA: CDPH updates definition of “close contact”

On June 8, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) changed the definition of a COVID-19 “close contact” to someone sharing the same “indoor airspace” (instead of the prior standard of being within 6 feet) for a cumulative total of at least 15 minutes over a 24-hour period during the infectious period of a…

Read More
Jun 16 2022
Uncategorized

Business mileage rate rises again July 1, 2022

If you reimburse employees for business mileage, be aware that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a mid-year increase of four cents, resulting in a standard mileage rate of 62.5 cents per mile, effective July 1, 2022. The standard rate from January 1, 2022, through June 30, 2022, is 58.5 cents per mile. Any amount…

Read More
Jun 16 2022
Harassment & DiscriminationHiringMontana

MONTANA: Good hiring criteria and documentation win the day

A Montana employer’s clear hiring criteria and good documentation showing why it chose not to hire a former employee allowed it to overcome a discrimination and retaliation claim in federal court. A former employee with human resources experience applied for three part-time package handler positions with United Parcel Service (UPS). UPS decided not to interview…

Read More
Jun 16 2022
Safety and Health

OSHA assesses large penalties for two employers’ safety violations

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited two companies after it found the employers exposed workers to serious hazards that resulted in the death of two individuals. A plastics company in Ohio faces $291,086 in penalties after an employee died while trying to clear plastic parts stuck in a machine. OSHA issued…

Read More
Jun 03 2022
Safety and HealthWashington

Washington Alert: Emergency regulations for outdoor heat exposure and wildfire smoke released

On June 1, 2022, emergency regulations for outdoor heat exposure and wildfire smoke were released. This Alert summarizes both sets of regulations, which take effect on June 15, 2022. WASHINGTON: L&I issues emergency rules for outdoor heat Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has released emergency requirements to protect workers from outdoor heat exposure….

Read More

Navigate complex employment issues with confidence.

As a Vigilant member, our service-first team is your dedicated partner—just one call away whenever you need us.

explore membership
Browse By Category
Browse By Topic
Filter By State
Get Our Newsletter
Sign Up Today
Connect With Us
Linkedin

Don’t Navigate Employment Issues On Your Own

Learn how Vigilant membership can help with your complex employment situations.
Get in Touch Today
Scroll to Top