We’ve generally been tolerant of harmless pranks, but recently, an employee placed a suggestive picture on a coworker’s workstation and another employee saw it and complained. How should we respond?

Answered by the HR Experts It sounds like this prank could have crossed the line into harassment, even though the person who was offended wasn’t necessarily the intended target. As an employer, you have an obligation to prevent and deal with harassment complaints...

Federal Law Alert: Federal EEO-1 Reporting Opens April 30

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that the 2023 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection will open April 30. The deadline to file the report is June 4, 2024. The EEO-1 Component 1 report is a mandatory filing for private employers with 100 or...

Federal Law Alert: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act – Final Regulations Published

The final rule for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which applies to employers with 15 or more employees, has been published and takes effect June 18, 2024. With over 100 pages of preamble, regulations, and interpretive guidance, there’s obviously a lot to...

A remote employee told us they were injured at home during their workday. What are our responsibilities?

When an employee informs you that they were injured while working from home, take the claim seriously and follow your usual procedure for a workplace injury. Here are the steps we recommend: Thank them for letting you know about the injury and ask if they need medical...

Maine Law Alert: Maine Veterans’ Benefits and Services Poster Now Available

In June of 2023, Maine passed a law requiring that employers with more than 50 full-time equivalent employees display a yet-to-be-created poster about veterans’ benefits and services. Well, the time has come—it’s been created! This poster needs to be displayed in a...

What are whistleblower protections?

Whistleblowing occurs when an employee reports wrongdoing (dangerous, illegal, or unethical activity or practices by the company or its employees) either directly to the employer or to an outside authority. Many laws, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act,...