Blog Posts: Taking Care of HR Business
Visit the Full BlogHuman resource professionals, supervisors, and company executives alike face a constantly changing and evolving legal landscape. Verrill's Taking Care of HR Business blog is here to keep you up to date on the newest and most important legal developments for employers.
HR Power Hour with Chuck Mollor
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Chuck Moller. This episode discusses the importance of psychological safety at work, including why it’s important and how you can help to build a more psychologically safe work environment for your employees. Chuck...
What You Need to Know About the FTC’s Proposed Non-Compete Ban
Today, January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) proposed a new rule that would ban companies from requiring non-compete agreements to be signed by employees and contractors (“Proposed Rule”). The FTC estimates that such a ban would affect 30 million Americans. The FTC’s reasoning behind the Proposed Rule...
What Employers Need to Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“ PWFA ”). Here is what you need to know about the law: When does it take effect? June 27, 2023 Who is covered by the law? Individuals who work for employers with 15 or...
HR Power Hour with Jeff Wozer- Digital Distraction
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Jeff Wozer. This episode discusses the effect screen time is having on productivity and proposed ways of combating digital distractions. Jeff Wozer is a writer, comedian and speaker having toured nationally for 20-plus...
HR Power Hour with Brett Barlow – Rethinking Payment Practices
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Brett Barlow. This episode discusses rethinking payment practices. Brett Harlow has over 25 years of experience leading SaaS businesses and consumer brands and is currently CEO of Everee, a fintech company that is...
HR Power Hour with Mary Axelsen – Change Leadership
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to WeMaax Consulting Founder & CEO Mary Axelsen. This episode discusses CARE Change Framework and the work that WeMaax Consulting does in the Change Leadership arena. Mary Axelsen is a former global HR Executive...
HR Power Hour with John Robertson – Leadership Tools in Crisis
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to John Robertson. This episode discusses various leadership tools in the face of crisis situations as well as evaluating probability before they occur. John Robertson is a workforce wellness expert and culture alignment specialist...
Pay Transparency Laws are on the Rise – What Employers Need to Know
Last week (November 1, 2022), New York City Local Law 59 came into effect. The law requires employers with four or more employees working in New York City (NYC) to publish salary ranges for every advertised job, promotion or transfer opportunity that could or will be performed in NYC...
Update Postings: EEOC Know Your Rights
The EEOC has issued a revised Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal poster (Revised 10/20). The poster is available here and should be posted as soon as possible. This document is revised and should replace the original poster that was issued on October 19. Some answers to Frequently...
HR Power Hour with David Jones – Happy People in the Right Position
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to David Jones . This episode discusses the importance of having happy people in the right positions. David Jones is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Talent Enterprise where he heads up business growth...
HR Power Hour with Elizabeth Johnston – Minimize Risks Related to Holiday Party Gatherings
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Verrill Attorney Elizabeth Johnston. This episode discusses minimizing risks relating to holiday party gatherings. Elizabeth Johnston handles a variety of employment matters including working with businesses of all sizes to ensure that their...
HR Power Hour with April Paradis – Investing in Women
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to April Paradis, HR Specialist at Bank of America, about the work that Bank of America is doing to invest in women. This episode discusses the importance of attracting and retaining both female leadership...
Double Check: COVID-19 Policy
While in March of 2020 , I believe many individuals hoped that by July of 2022 we would no longer be concerned with COVID-19 Policies, such, unfortunately, is not the case. Yesterday , the EEOC updated its long-standing guidance, What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the...
Supreme Leak: NLRA Rights
For blog followers, you likely saw last week’s post reminding you to revisit your confidentiality policies in the wake of the leaking of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, as well as our follow-up piece concerning religious rights at work and steps to take...
Supreme Leak: Religion at Work
Over the last year, our society has navigated COVID-19 and rules concerning vaccination and masking. As a society and on this blog, we have discussed regularly the role religious freedoms play in the work environment—under the Constitution, Title VII, and state law. Today, however, it’s time to re-visit the...
News of Supreme Court Leak is a Good Reminder to Revisit Confidentiality Policies
If you have been on social media today (or yesterday) or picked up a newspaper or listened to the radio or watched television—really if you have consumed news in any format, you likely are aware that POLITICO obtained an initial draft majority opinion written by Samuel Alito in the...
“Mug-shots”: Are Employees’ risky beverage containers a cause for concern?
Prior to (and more so during) the pandemic, many individuals who found themselves working from home were limited in ways to express their uniqueness, their personalities, the things that made them, well, them. It started with fun backgrounds. Waves in the distance, a meeting in outer space, your favorite...
Limiting Harassment Claims When Returning to IRL Engagement
It is April 2022 and after 2 years of pandemic-related in-person meeting restrictions (also known as meeting In Real Life (IRL)), we are seeing increases in employers permitting work-related travel. That, coupled with requirements for partial or full-time return to the office means that we are seeing an increase...
HR 2116 and What You Need to Know About Hairstyle Discrimination
On March 18, the United States House of Representatives passed HR 2116 by a vote of 235-to-189. The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act (a/k/a CROWN Act) , would restrict discrimination on the basis of hair texture or style in Federally Assisted Programs, Housing Programs...
Breaking: OSHA Releases Emergency Temporary Standard for Employers with 100 or More Employees
IMPORTANT UPDATE- 11-11-21 The federal court of appeals for the Fifth Circuit has suspended OSHA’s Temporary Emergency Standard in response to a lawsuit filed last Friday by a number of Plaintiffs, which included the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Utah. The Court cited “grave statutory and...
HR Power Hour with Robert Brooks- What's Covered? COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to fellow Verrill labor and employment attorney Robert Brooks , about vaccine mandates at work. This episode discusses how the government has authority to mandate vaccines at work, how to implement a vaccine mandate...
HR Power Hour with Humza Khan – First Five Steps for DE&I
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Humza Khan, founder of Inclusion Maine, about all things diversity, equity and inclusion. This episode discusses the foundation of building a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program and the first five steps any organization...
Myth Buster: There is Not a General Testing Alternative for Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandate
This is the first in a series of posts from Verrill with the purpose of helping to dispel myths that are currently circulating concerning employment laws and rules related to COVID-19. On September 24, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force issued draft Guidance for Federal Contractors entitled COVID-19 Workplace...
Myth Buster: If Your Company Receives Federal Funds the Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandated Obligations Does Not Automatically Apply
This is the second in a series of posts from Verrill with the purpose of helping to dispel myths that are currently circulating concerning employment laws and rules related to COVID-19. On September 24, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force issued draft Guidance for Federal Contractors entitled COVID-19 Workplace...
HR Power Hour with Scot Mattox - What's Covered? Identifying Impairment in the Workplace
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Scot Mattox, Esq., CEO of Dirigo Safety, LLC, about identifying impairment in the workplace and the services that Dirigo Safety, LLC offers to companies to help educate leaders as to best practices related...
This Week's Show: Beth Smith – What’s Covered? Workers’ Compensation 101
On Saturday, August 7, Tawny Alvarez, Verrill attorney and co-host of HR Power Hour, interviewed fellow Verrill attorney Elizabeth Smith for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Tawny and Beth discuss pre-existing injuries, emotional wellness, stress, a skiing accident—are they covered by workers’ compensation? Beth has...
This Week's Show: COVID-19 and Return to Work
On Saturday, July 10, Tawny interviewed Emily Waddell, Associate Attorney in Verrill's Employment & Labor Group, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Tawny and Emily discuss returning to work and COVID-19. Emily provides tailored legal solutions to support her client’s human capital and organizational objectives...
This Week's Show: Wellness for Modern Teams
On Saturday, June 26, Tawny interviewed Mike Vien, CEO and Co-founder of Wallit, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Tawny and Mike discuss wellness for modern teams. Mike Vien is the CEO and co-founder of Wallit, an enterprise wellness platform for modern teams. For more...
OSHA Issues Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare Settings
Earlier today (June 10, 2021), OSHA issued COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) Subpart U applicable to healthcare settings. While OSHA has indicated that future guidance may be provided for other industries, today’s guidance is limited to the healthcare setting. The first question: Does the ETS apply to your organization...
Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Forms
As many readers know, on May 28, 2021, An Act Providing for Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave was passed. The Act creates a fund for the Commonwealth to reimburse eligible employers who provide employees with COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave. This statute provides that between May 28, 2021...
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