By Lynne Curry You’ve heard. Now you need to act. If you had hoped the pandemic had faded away, you need to buckle down once more. The highly contagious Delta variant has caused illness and hospitalizations to rise. While it spreads primarily among the unvaccinated, no one is immune. Further, new variants could prove even more threatening. What does that mean to you as an … [Read more...] about COVID-19 delta variant: What managers need to do
Risk management
An employee cyberstalks potential hires, looking for dirt
By Lynne Curry According to rumor, one of my co-workers conducts unauthorized criminal background investigations on prospective employees without their knowledge or permission. This cyber-snoop doesn’t work in human resources but collects information and passes it along to the hiring managers. She’s also been known to interrogate employees after they’re hired about … [Read more...] about An employee cyberstalks potential hires, looking for dirt
Who has OSHA responsibility for the health & safety of a temp?
What are your OSHA duties to temporary workers (“temps”) whom you hire from a temp agency to work at your firm? Stated differently, are you or the temp agency responsible for the temp’s health and safety? Here’s a set of scenario quizzes that illustrate how the rules work. SCENARIO 1: RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZCOM TRAINING The Temps R’Us Agency (Agency) assigns an employee to … [Read more...] about Who has OSHA responsibility for the health & safety of a temp?
Most of your law office employees are vaccinated. Now what?
By Lynne Curry bio Most of your office staff have received vaccines. Those who remain unvaccinated either haven’t decided whether they will or have refused to get vaccinated. What’s next? Can you relax your workplace protocols? New CDC guidance In recent weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided new COVID-19 guidance for fully vaccinated … [Read more...] about Most of your law office employees are vaccinated. Now what?
How to deal with new friction between the vaccinated and unvaccinated
By Lynne Curry bio After five employees boarded an elevator, two additional employees attempted to get on as well. One of the employees already on the elevator asked these two not to board. “We can’t remain six feet apart if you get on.” One of the employees wanting to board said, “It’s only a short distance.” After the employees arrived on their floor, the back and forth … [Read more...] about How to deal with new friction between the vaccinated and unvaccinated
Don’t write a positive reference for a problem employee; instead…
By Lynne Curry bio Question: After an investigation, we fired one of our employees for threatening and stalking two co-workers. He now demands a positive letter of reference, which I'm writing. I tried to appease him with an innocuous letter that gave the dates on which he'd worked here along with what his job duties were. He refused to accept this, and frankly he scares … [Read more...] about Don’t write a positive reference for a problem employee; instead…
How to create an enhanced cleaning and disinfection policy for your office
In the age of COVID-19, complying with the rigorous hygiene requirements of OSHA and other standards may not be enough. That’s because the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health guidelines mandate that work facilities still in operation undertake special enhanced cleaning and disinfection measures. Here are the rules and how to comply. There’s … [Read more...] about How to create an enhanced cleaning and disinfection policy for your office
Model Law Office Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection Policy
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and other public health organizations mandate that employers take additional cleaning and hygiene measures during the pandemic. Here’s a Model Policy you can adapt for your own use based on your specific circumstances and applicable local and specialty rules. … [Read more...] about Model Law Office Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection Policy
Worker’s acknowledgement of decision to decline COVID-19 vaccination
It is important for you to ensure that law office workers get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect not only themselves but also co-workers, patients and others at your facility. But what if workers neglect or just plain refuse to be vaccinated? There are two basic options: Option 1: Require workers to be vaccinated Option 2: Encourage workers to be vaccinated … [Read more...] about Worker’s acknowledgement of decision to decline COVID-19 vaccination
EEOC issues COVID-19 vaccine guidance
By Mike O'Brien bio On Dec. 16, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its COVID-19 guidance to include a section devoted to vaccinations. The EEOC’s guidance answers these and other COVID-19 vaccine questions: “Is asking or requiring an employee to show proof of receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination a disability-related inquiry?” “If an employer … [Read more...] about EEOC issues COVID-19 vaccine guidance