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Articles Posted in Human Resources Policies
Mandatory paid sick leave could be coming to New Jersey too.
By No machine-readable author provided. ChrisRuvolo assumed (based on copyright claims). [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Lawsuit: No, it’s not okay to access a vacationing co-worker’s social media at the office
Facebook Mobile Texting Smartphone Facebook Lite (Image Credit: http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/Facebook-Mobile-Texting-Smartphone-Facebook-Lite-3021068)
During a week-long vacation from work, a Pennsylvania woman claims that some colleagues logged into her Facebook account from work and reviewed her Facebook Messenger messages, among other things. The woman further claims that when she returned to work from vacation, her employer fired her because “things had come to light.”
And now she’s suing in federal court.
The first cannabis stores in PA are opening. It’s time to re-educate employers on what that means.

Image Credit: Pixabay.com
It’s been a while since we addressed the legalization of medical marijuana in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and what that means for employers. It was about two years ago to be precise.
Last October, I presented on this topic at the SHRM Lehigh Valley “annual” October Conference. But, many of you weren’t there. And, with the first medical marijuana dispensaries opening for business this weekend, this seems like as good a time as any to update my Pennsylvania peeps on what that means for your workplace.
(The rest of you can connect with me on LinkedIn.) Continue reading
Go ahead and pull those old employee handbooks out of the trash!

Just be sure to wipe off the coffee grounds.
And cross out all of those outdated references to MySpace and Friendster in the social media policy. Continue reading
Three key areas that could make 2018 the year of the employee handbook overhaul
Read on, HR enthusiasts. Continue reading
JOIN US: “The Employment Law Year in Review,” a free webinar on Thu, Dec 7, 2017 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST
I had one date circled — one date between now and the end of the year.
Later this week, on November 17, Netflix releases Marvel’s The Punisher. If you’ve dorked out gotten culture with any of The Defenders series, then, like me, you’ve been chomping at the bit for this release. But, if you need some enticement, check out the official trailer for Marvel’s The Punisher. It opens with Frank Castle as an early contender for Father Of the Year, teaching his kid Metallica on an acoustic guitar. Seconds later, Castle’s entire family is dead and he’s talking about infiltrating a covert CIA operation. And, at the 1:22 mark of the trailer, we have this exchange between Frank Castle and a sidekick:
Sidekick: You and me, we want the same thing. So, work with me.
Frank Castle: On one condition. I’m gonna kill ’em all.
Sidekick: Yeah, I can live with that.
Dammit, Netflix! Stop twisting my arm! Cause, it hurts so good.
***blows smoke and starts chewing bubble gum cigarette***
Now, if you’re going to circle one other date on the calendar, may I suggest December 7? Yep, I’ve buried the lede long enough. Continue reading
A new SHRM-endorsed House bill promotes paid employee leave across the country
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is touting this bill, known as the “Workflex in the 21st Century Act” (you can view it here) as “a first-of-its-kind combination of guaranteed paid leave and increased options for flexible work arrangements.”
Could your business withstand a tsunami of individual wage and hour claims?

Image Credit: Pixabay.com (https://pixabay.com/en/wave-water-sea-tsunami-giant-wave-11061/)
And here you thought you were so smart by getting all of your employees to agree to class-action waivers and binding arbitration of all employment-related claims.
Maybe not so much. Continue reading
7 last-minute ways for HR to be the wettest of wet blankets on Halloween
Tomorrow is Halloween.
Slacking this year, my family made our last-minute trip to the farm on Saturday for pumpkins. The kids held it together for the most part, except when it was every boy and girl for himself/herself in the “cornbox.” Fortunately, there were plenty of cider donuts available to encourage good behavior and a well-timed crash right before bedtime. 😉
Fortunately, we did not procrastinate on other Halloween preparations. Continue reading
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