The Employer Handbook Blog

Court rules its ok for a winery worker to wear “Cellar Lives Matter” apparel.

April 1, 2021 | by Eric B. Meyer

Ivan Radic, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Imagine a non-union widget factory in which widget makers want to unionize. As part of the unionizing campaign, one of the widget makers decides to wear a vest on which he writes “Widget Lives Matter.” Management is concerned that this vest is racially insensitive, will foster employee dissension, and potentially become a PR nightmare. So, it orders the employee to remove the vest.

Is this legal? Continue reading

A Florida man allegedly lost his job because of his fake COVID-19 vaccination card side hustle

March 31, 2021 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

A real tell was that the fake cards supposedly included the caption, “F**k masks.”

Because mine doesn’t say that. ***flips it over*** Still no.

Members of Congress want “bold action” from the new Labor Secretary. (Like overtime for anyone making under $1,591/week!!!))

March 30, 2021 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Several members of Congress have asked new Secretary of Labor Martin J. Walsh to require American businesses to pay overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act to anyone making less than $1,591 per week (equivalent to $82,732 per year for a full-year worker) who works more than 40 hours in a workweek. $82,732 per year is the 55th percentile of earnings of full-time salaried workers nationwide.

So, yeah, whoa! Continue reading

Employers that operate in THIS state can require workers to get vaccinated

March 29, 2021 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image by torstensimon from Pixabay

Several states are taking steps to forbid employers from requiring that workers receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Separately, I know of at least two pending lawsuits that employees have filed. I already blogged about one of them here. The other is pending in a federal court in California.

But it’s the California of the East a/k/a New Jersey that has taken a much different approach. Continue reading

This pre-COVID case underscores how telework will often be a post-COVID reasonable accommodation

March 26, 2021 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image by Martine Auvray from Pixabay

An employee’s perception of the workplace is critical to gaining an accurate picture of what the actual workplace is like.

Do you agree? Continue reading

Will (reverse) vaccination discrimination be the next big thing?

March 25, 2021 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: Marco Verch Professional Photographer (Syringe and vaccination record card on blue background)//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

The Miami Heat made news twice yesterday. First, the rumor mill has the franchise closely tied to a deal for Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry. Of course, my beloved Philadelphia 76ers are also in the mix to bring the Villanova grad back home to the City of Brotherly Love.

But the bigger Miami Heat news is that vaccinated fans will soon have their own sections at Miami Heat games. Continue reading

Here’s a tip. Expect significant changes to the DOL’s previously-proposed employee tipping rules.

March 24, 2021 | by Eric B. Meyer

Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

I know a guy.

(Ok, I got a press release.) Continue reading

A Texas diner threatening a $50 no-mask surcharge is your reminder not to relax face mask rules at work

March 23, 2021 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: Legends Diner Denton on Facebook

During the last The Employer Handbook Zoom Office Hour on Friday, which you can view here on The Employer Handbook YouTube channel, we discussed how employers could expect OSHA to be a lot more aggressive about COVID-19 workplace inspections in 2021. Continue reading

Join us on 3/26 at Noon ET for The Employer Handbook Zoom Office Hours. That’s right, HOURS! A DOUBLE FEATURE!!!

March 22, 2021 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: Photofunia.com

Let’s give a shout-out to my special guest, David Miklas, and to everyone who attended The Employer Handbook Zoom Office Hour this past Friday. I had a great time discussing FFCRA, OSHA, and the new CDC COVID-19 guidance.

Did you enjoy it too? Continue reading

Here’s what we’re covering today on The Employer Handbook Zoom Officer Hour at Noon ET

March 19, 2021 | by Eric B. Meyer

Micthev, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you haven’t done so already, click here to register to join David Miklas and me on Zoom at Noon ET.

Here’s what we’re covering: Continue reading