Regulators have made it clear that workplaces must implement written plans to control COVID-19 exposure risks at the site. Here’s a Model Plan template your office can adapt that provides for the necessary protections. … [Read more...] about Tool: Model COVID-19 Exposure Control Plan
Compliance
Supreme Court ruling extends workplace protections to LGBTQ workers
By Mike O’Brien bio SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND TRANSGENDER STATUS NOW ARE PROTECTED CLASSES NATIONALLY: Federal civil rights law protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees, the United States Supreme Court announced June 15 in a landmark ruling. The historic decision will extend workplace anti-discrimination and anti-harassment protections to about 8 million LGBTQ workers … [Read more...] about Supreme Court ruling extends workplace protections to LGBTQ workers
Top 10 questions an employer should ask before returning employees to work
By Mike O’Brien bio As various states and municipalities across the country lift shutdowns and begin easing COVID restrictions, employers are faced with complex questions about safely bringing their employees back to the workplace. We’ve compiled the top 10 questions every employer should consider before returning employees to work. How do we implement proper infection … [Read more...] about Top 10 questions an employer should ask before returning employees to work
Employment law changing on the fly in response to COVID-19
By Mike O’Brien bio COVID-19 has ushered in a variety of new, and fast-evolving employment law changes, from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDIT: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) includes a tax credit for employers that retain … [Read more...] about Employment law changing on the fly in response to COVID-19
4 bad financial habits that may increase your policy premiums and your malpractice risk
Ineffective billing and collections practices affect more than the bottom line. They ultimately may determine what the firm has to pay for malpractice coverage. To an underwriter, poor financial habits are just like poor legal habits—they spell high risk for malpractice claims, says Dan Knise, president and CEO of Ames & Gough, a McClean, VA, specialty insurance broker. If … [Read more...] about 4 bad financial habits that may increase your policy premiums and your malpractice risk
8 pitfalls of letting law firm employees work from home
Contrary to what you might have heard in HR circles, refusing to let employees work from home will not make your law firm a dinosaur that nobody will ever want to work for. In fact, it will put you in the same position as the nearly 65 percent of employers that don't allow telecommuting. But telecommuting does offer significant business advantages. And to the extent you're … [Read more...] about 8 pitfalls of letting law firm employees work from home
Immigration alert, social media, salary threshold, minimum wage, trafficking and more
By Mike O'Brien bio Immigration alert—more Social Security "no-match" letters to issue this fall: The Social Security Administration (SSA) just announced its plan to mail a second set of "no-match letters" to employers this fall. These notices request employers to reconcile wage reports and credit employees' earnings to their Social Security records, stating there is … [Read more...] about Immigration alert, social media, salary threshold, minimum wage, trafficking and more
Salary threshold increases getting review
By Mike O'Brien bio DOL sends proposed FLSA salary threshold increases to OMB for final review: On Aug. 12, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor sent its proposed salary threshold rule change to the White House Office of Management and Budget for a final review. This rule would raise the salary threshold for "white-collar" FLSA exemptions (executive, administrative, … [Read more...] about Salary threshold increases getting review
Trust account errors that could get you disbarred
As a law firm administrator, trust accounting issues need to be your primary concern, according to Joryn Jenkins, a collaborative divorce attorney, author and CEO of Open Palm Law and Open Palm Press in Tampa, FL. Elizabeth Miller, an independent law firm administrator in Tampa Bay, agrees, adding that of five trust account errors that could land you in serious trouble with … [Read more...] about Trust account errors that could get you disbarred
How to investigate an employment-related complaint from a staffer
Got a complaint from an employee? Investigate it. If that complaint turns into a legal claim, part of the allegation of wrongdoing may well be that the office "didn't take it seriously and failed to investigate," says employment law attorney Ingrid Culp of Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis. The law doesn't require that an employer investigate a claim, she says. But it is … [Read more...] about How to investigate an employment-related complaint from a staffer