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by Kevin C. McCormick Maryland’s new law prohibiting discrimination against transgender individuals in areas of employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations goes into effect October 1. The Fairness for All Marylanders Act passed the legislature in March and was signed by Governor Martin O’Malley in May. It adds “gender identity” to Maryland’s existing laws that […]
by Leslie Silverman Over a 15-month period, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners Victoria Lipnic and Chai Feldblum led a task force focused on understanding and preventing workplace harassment. On June 20, 2016, Commissioners Lipnic and Feldblum released a final report and recommendations based on their experience leading the EEOC task force. Task force and […]
by Laurie Jirak Distribution of medical marijuana in Minnesota is set to begin July 1, so employers need to understand their rights and responsibilities under the state’s new medical marijuana law. Confusion may arise because employers are subject to both federal and state laws that may impose different standards or requirements on workplace medical marijuana […]
It seems that the number of people with allergies or sensitivities to various scents and smells has grown substantially. Some of those allergies can be severe, causing severe respiratory difficulties and other serious health issues. Questions continue to arise about the often competing rights of allergic employees and coworkers who wish to be able to […]
By Hannah Roskey When will an employee’s breach of confidence justify immediate dismissal under Canadian law? A recent decision by the British Columbia Supreme Court demonstrates that clearly drafted employer policies intended to protect confidential information can indeed be strictly enforced. In Steel v. Coast Capital Savings Credit Union, the court upheld the dismissal of […]
By Elizabeth Bowersox, JD The number of overtime and minimum wage claims filed against employers under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) continues to rise, and with that hike comes an increased risk of FLSA retaliation claims.
Black Friday is right around the corner, and for retail employers who are struggling to find talent, the key to a successful and profitable holiday shopping season may lie in reskilling your existing workforce.
Strategy is almost synonymous with leadership, but too often training and development for leadership roles focuses more on strategic planning than strategic thinking (yes, there’s a difference!). Read on for more on strategic thinking in training. “An increasing number of organizations are putting strategic thinking on their list of topics. It’s becoming a bigger priority, […]
In a previous post, we discussed the importance of leveraging noncore staff more efficiently. Most companies use administrative assistance or specialized teams, such as communications or marketing, to focus on activities that are noncore, depending on the industry (i.e., for a PR or marketing company, communications and marketing may very well be core functions).
by G. Thomas Harper Governor Rick Scott has signed into law controversial House Bill (HB) 1205, which will change the way state employers deal with drug testing their employees. What follows is a quick update on how HB 1205 will affect employers when it goes into effect at the beginning of July. In addition to […]