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Chicago Sexual Harassment Training Requirements
Chicago Sexual Harassment Training Requirements include annual deadlines, manager-specific hours, and fines. Learn the steps to compliance.
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How Employers Can Prevent Discrimination in the Workplace
A workplace discrimination claim starts when an employee challenges an employment decision and claims that the employer treated that employee differently…
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Independent Contractor Misclassification [Updated for 2026]
Federal worker classification rules have been in flux since 2021, and the current administration’s DOL has…
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Harassment Investigation Checklist For Employers
A written harassment investigation checklist can help employers prevent harassment in the workplace by following a consistent process…
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Reasonable Accommodation Denial Letters [With Samples]
An accommodation request is how an employee lets their employer know they need something changed at work because of a medical condition…
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OSHA Chemical Storage Requirements: How Employers Can Stay Compliant
OSHA defines a hazardous chemical as any substance that presents a physical or health hazard in the workplace…
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The New York Retail Worker Safety Act
On September 4, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the New York Retail Worker Safety Act (S8358C/A8947C), a measure designed to enhance the safety of retail workers and address the growing concerns of workplace violence in retail environments…
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MSHA’s Final Silica Rule: Scope, Obligations, and Deadlines
In 2024, MSHA finalized a rule that lowers the allowable silica exposure limit and expands operator obligations around monitoring, controls, and worker health…
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MSHA Powered Haulage Rule: Employer Guide
On December 20, 2023, MSHA issued the Powered Haulage Rule to improve safety in mining operations involving surface mobile equipment…
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Recruiting and Hiring Best Practices for Employers
Employers face discrimination claims when hiring decisions appear to rely on subjective judgments, inconsistent screening, or criteria unrelated to the job…
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Wage & Hour Law Compliance for Employers
Complying with wage and hour laws can be tricky, as there are various federal, state, and local regulations that all impose different requirements upon employers…
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What is the WARN Act? What Employers Need to Know
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires employers to provide a 60-day notice before planned closings or mass layoffs…
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Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: Guide for Employers
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which took effect on June 27, 2023, introduced new requirements for employee workplace accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth, and associated medical conditions…
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What Does the 2024 Supreme Court Chevron Decision Mean?
In 1984, the Supreme Court ruled in Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. NRDC that courts should defer to a federal agency’s interpretation of an ambiguous statute…
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FMLA Exhaustion Letters: A Guide for Employers
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides eligible employees with the right to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specific family and medical reasons…
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Legitimate Reasons to Fire an Employee Without Exposing Your Company to Legal Risk
Most private-sector jobs in the U.S. are considered at-will, which means employers can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause…
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How to Prevent Harassment in the Workplace
Workplace harassment is a form of employment discrimination prohibited by numerous federal laws…
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Understanding California SB 553 – For Employers
Senate Bill (SB) 553 is a piece of legislation that modified California Labor Code section 6401.7 when it was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom…
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Sexual Harassment Investigation Questions for Employers
A sexual harassment investigation determines whether conduct violated company policies, federal or state laws, or both…
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Implementing Your California Workplace Violence Prevention Plan
Workplace violence is a severe concern for employers across all industries, and California has taken a proactive stance in addressing this critical issue…
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MSHA Inspection Checklist for Employers: How to Prepare
The Mine Health and Safety Administration (MSHA) requires mine operators to maintain a workplace that meets federal safety and health standards…
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How to Conduct a Workplace Investigation
As remote work becomes a standard option for employees, employers need policies that clearly define workplace expectations, manage legal responsibilities, and support a safe, productive work environment…
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The Four Types of Workplace Violence
Workplace violence affects employees across industries and creates risks that go beyond physical harm. It can lead to fear among employees, disrupt operations, and expose employers to liability…
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How to Respond to Whistleblower Complaints
A good whistleblower policy provides employees with a structured, secure way to report misconduct, such as fraud, safety violations, harassment, or ethical breaches…
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How to Complete the FMLA Designation Notice (WH-382) Correctly
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible employees the right to take unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying medical and family reasons…
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What Employers Need to Know About the NLRB’s Joint Employer Rule
A joint employer classification can significantly impact how a business operates, especially when working with contractors, staffing agencies, or franchisees…
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Recognizing the Warning Signs of Workplace Violence
Workplace violence poses a serious concern for businesses across all industries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), reported…
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Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare
Workplace violence entails incidents that occur at a place of work involving physically and/or psychologically damaging actions…
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FMLA Fraud Investigations: Employer Rights and Limits
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave each year for specific family and medical reasons…
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FTC Non-Compete Ban: Over Before it Began
In April 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a new rule on the horizon: a non-compete ban that would have taken effect on September 4, 2024…
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The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1195)
Workplace violence is a significant concern for workers across the nation. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1195) is a legislative effort aimed at…
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Wrongful Termination Defense for Employers
Most employment relationships are at-will. That means either the employer or the employee can end the relationship at any time, and usually without advance notice or explanation…
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Harnessing OSHA Recordkeeping Software to Streamline Compliance
As a business owner, you know how important it is that you comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations…
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How to Calculate Overtime Pay [Employer Guide]
The Department of Labor closely watches how employers calculate overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA is a federal law that requires…
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How to Negotiate Collective Bargaining Agreements: Employer Guide
Collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) define key aspects of the relationship between employers and unionized employees…
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Union Avoidance Strategies for Employers
Maintaining a satisfied and engaged workforce is the most effective way for employers to prevent unionization…
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Independent Contractor or Employee in California? What Employers Need to Get Right
In California, whether a worker is treated as an employee or an independent contractor determines what the company is responsible for providing…
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What is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ)?
A bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) is a narrow exception in discrimination law that lets an employer limit a job to candidates with a specific protected characteristic when the characteristic connects directly to the job’s core duties…
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Wage and Hour Defense for Employers
Wage and hour lawsuits are among the most expensive problems an employer can face. A payroll error that shortchanges minimum wage or miscalculates overtime can…
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USERRA-Compliant Military Leave Policies for Employers
When an employee who serves in the military gives notice that they received orders to report for duty, federal law imposes specific obligations on the employer…
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Unfair Labor Practice Defense for Employers
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) sets the ground rules for how employers interact with workers about pay and other working conditions…
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OSHA Defense Lawyers and How They Help Employers
An unexpected OSHA visit can halt production and expose a company to steep penalties. Inspectors move quickly to collect maintenance records and employee statements, then expand the inspection area to cite hazards they spot in passing…
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HR Investigation Questions: Conducting Effective Interviews
Employers launch HR investigations to address workplace problems like harassment or discrimination complaints, retaliation reports, safety hazards, misuse of company property, and conflicts that disrupt operations…
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How to Prevent Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Sexual assault prevention starts with clear rules employees can follow and supervisors can enforce…
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FMLA and ADA Defense: Employer Guide to Handling and Defending Claims
Employers are usually faced with FMLA or ADA claims once the company has notice that a medical condition affects an employee’s attendance or job duties…
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Creating a Strong Sexual Harassment Policy
A strong sexual harassment policy sets a clear conduct standard employees can follow and supervisors can enforce…
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Bad Faith Bargaining Defense for Employers
An employer engages in bad faith bargaining when it goes through the motions of negotiating with an employee or their representative without a real intent to reach agreement. Under Section 8(a)(5) of the National Labor Relations Act
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ADA Reasonable Accommodation Checklist for Employers
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires private employers with at least 15 employees to provide reasonable accommodations that make it possible for qualified workers with medical conditions to perform their “essential job duties.”…
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ADA Compliance Guidelines for Hotels
ADA Compliance for Hotels Top ADA Priorities Hotel owners and operators face ADA exposure when a guest with a disability can’t use the hotel the same way other guests can. Most hotel ADA problems come from two
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CalOPPA Privacy Policy Requirements
Operators Covered CalOPPA applies to any business that runs a commercial website or online service and collects and maintains personally identifiable information from California consumers through that site or service. A business can operate anywhere and still
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Employee Attendance Policies: A Template for a Strong Policy
This template provides general guidance for drafting an employee attendance policy. Employers should consult with legal counsel to ensure their attendance policy complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws and fits their specific workplace needs. Attendance
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Protected Concerted Activity: Employer Do’s and Don’ts
Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act protects employees when they engage in protected concerted activity to raise concerns about pay or working conditions. Section 7 can protect employees who talk with co-workers about wages or
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Is There an OSHA Standard for Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the practice of designing work tasks and workstations so employees exert less physical force and spend less time holding awkward posture. OSHA does not have a federal ergonomics standard, but OSHA can still address ergonomic
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California Whistleblower Laws: Employer Guide
What Triggers Whistleblower Protection An employee triggers whistleblower protection by reporting what the employee suspects is unlawful conduct. Employees can report inside the company to a supervisor or to the person the company assigns to receive complaints,
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FMLA Compliance Guide for 2025 [With Checklist]
Who FMLA Covers and When It Applies The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave over the course of a 12-month period. It applies
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FCRA-Compliant Background Checks: A Guide for Employers
The Fair Credit and Reporting Act (FCRA) was enacted to regulate how consumer information, including information contained in background checks, is collected and handled by employers. The FCRA sets strict guidelines on how businesses can gather and
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Employer Defense Attorneys: What They Do and Why Employers Rely on Them
Employers rely on defense attorneys when internal issues threaten to become legal problems. Sometimes it starts with a single complaint—someone questions a termination, raises a wage concern, or reports harassment. Other times, the first sign is a
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Employee Handbooks: Tips for Compliance
Key Reasons to Create an Employee Handbook A well-crafted employee handbook serves several important purposes within an organization: NLRB Decisions and Implications for Employee Handbooks Notable NLRB Decisions The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is a quasi-judicial
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Drug Testing Policy Template for Employers
Employers across a wide range of sectors use drug testing policies to meet legal requirements and maintain safe operations…
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Developing a Compliant Religious Accommodation Policy [with Sample Letters]
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on religion and requires them to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with sincerely held religious beliefs. Employers are required to evaluate each accommodation
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Creating a Strong Remote Work from Home Policy: Employer’s Guide
The Importance of a Comprehensive Remote Work Policy Workplace investigations are important for both employers and employees. Workplace investigations help create a better work environment, address concerns, and lower the chance of legal issues. Looking into issues
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Common OSHA Violations and How to Avoid Them
Employers are responsible for maintaining safe workplaces that comply with OSHA standards. When OSHA standards are not met, the well-being of employees can be at risk, and employers can face significant fines and legal challenges. Proactively addressing
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Can You Terminate an Employee After FMLA is Exhausted?
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave each year. During that time, the employer is required to hold the employee’s position or be prepared
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California Sexual Harassment Training Requirements: How to Stay Compliant
California employers are held to some of the strictest sexual harassment training standards in the country…
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California Pay Transparency Laws: Compliance, Risk, and Putting Policy Into Practice
California’s pay transparency law applies to private employers with at least 15 employees that advertise jobs a person could perform while living in California, either on-site or remotely. The law also applies to California employers based outside the state
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Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention
Protecting Workers from Heat-Related Risks Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Standards California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (otherwise known as “Cal/OSHA”) recently implemented the “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment” standards. Cal/OSHA’s new standard is
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Are DEI Programs Legal? When Do They Cross the Line?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs are employer-led initiatives that focus on increasing representation, improving access to opportunities, and addressing workplace barriers tied to race, sex, and other protected characteristics…
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ADA Disability Accommodation and Discrimination
A Guide for Employers ADA Overview The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a significant piece of federal legislation that protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in various areas of life. Title I, in particular, applies to the protection
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ADA Compliance Checklist [With Sample Checklist]
The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to private employers with 15 or more employees. It bars disability-based discrimination in every part of the employment relationship…