Human Resources Policies

1 lactating employee + 0 place to pump = 1 messy complaint

October 9, 2010 | by Eric B. Meyer

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , enacted earlier this year, amended the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to require a “reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk.” Employers are also required to provide “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.” (Check out this fact sheet for more information)

It seems that one Iowa employer didn’t get the memo. Instead, it now has a potential lawsuit. Read all the messy details, after the jump…

Do you have a HR policy on media relations?

October 9, 2010 | by Eric B. Meyer

You will now.

Here’s the after.

Easy lesson: Make sure you have a media relations policy. Below is a good starting point.

Driving + Texting = OSHA all up in your business

October 9, 2010 | by Eric B. Meyer

Congress created the Occupational Safety & Hazard Administration (OSHA) to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. That sounds nice. But my clients and I both know this: you don’t want OSHA sniffing around your job sites.

Now OSHA is expanding its taking aim at a new target: distracted-driving. Read how, after the jump…

8 ways for employers to prepare for flu season

October 4, 2010 | by Eric B. Meyer

Last week we had flu shot day at Dilworth Paxson. I missed it. I was out prepping a client for an upcoming deposition. So, over the weekend, I shelled out the $24.95 and got a flu shot at the local drug store. Why? Because I don’t want to get sick and I don’t want to get other people sick. That’s precisely why my law firm offers free flu shots to its employees. (Plus, Mr. and Mrs. Meyer raised a conscientious son).

What is your business doing to prepare for flu season and a possible 2010/2011 pandemic? I’ve got eight suggestions for you after the jump.
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What happened to our healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts?

September 18, 2010 | by Eric B. Meyer

In March of this year, I finally wised up and opened a health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) through my job.
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Massachusetts is cuckoo, but I still love the Red Sox

September 9, 2010 | by Eric B. Meyer

Note: This article has nothing to do with the Red Sox. Nothing at all. Just Massachusetts. And Massachusetts employment law at that. It’s ok, though. Still worth a read IMHO. Good advice for my PA, NJ, and DE readers.

I was checking out Gruntled Employees — get it? “gruntled” … as in the opposite of disgruntled … yeah, anyway — and I came across a a new law requiring companies to notify employees about any potentially negative information added to their personnel files.

Hear me out. I’m on a roll with this…after the jump.
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