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COVID-19 Resources of Employment Law

COVID-19The COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Executive Order 2020-21 has raised many questions for employers across the state. Foster Swift is ready and able to assist any business in making the determination about whether it is exempt, or to answer any other questions you may have regarding the impact of COVID-19 on your business. With the uncertainty and partial information surrounding the Coronavirus, consider the following articles and interview for relevant and accurate updates: 

Part One: What You Need to Know Before Conducting a Workplace Investigation in Michigan

Hands going through filesConducting a workplace investigation is a challenging and risk-filled endeavor for Michigan employers. Done right, an investigation can unearth important information that can help bring an end to deleterious behavior—or affirm that nothing unlawful or improper is or was taking place. In either case, an investigation can restore trust and credibility internally and externally. Done poorly, an investigation erodes trust and can result in legal and financial consequences, loss of employee morale, and reputational damage. Read More ›

Categories: Compliance, Employment, Harassment, Lawsuit, Liability

Part One: Stay on the Right Side of the Law When Conducting Job Candidate Background Checks

Background Checks FormIn the past, background checks on prospective employees were done as a matter of course by employers. The only real risk employers faced was missing a red flag in a candidate’s background, resulting in a poor hiring decision. Read More ›

Categories: Compliance, Criminal, Employee Handbook, Employment

Legal Pitfalls and Best Practices During the Hiring Process

Shaking handsIn today’s tight job market, businesses must recruit aggressively to attract talent. However, without a clear and compliant hiring process in place, and well-trained employees to implement the process, an employer’s hiring practices can open it up to significant liability. Read More ›

Categories: Employment, Labor Relations, Lawsuit, Liability

The End is Here…How to End the Employment Relationship

Man Holding BoxDisciplining, terminating or laying off employees can be a traumatic experience. It is traumatic for the employee because it involves criticism for not performing acceptably and/or causing potential financial burdens because the paycheck has stopped. Read More ›

Categories: Employment, Labor Relations, Lawsuit

Federal District Court Vacates New Association Health Plan Rules

On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued final regulations that expanded the availability of association health plans ("AHPs"). Those regulations (the "AHP Rules") were summarized in our previous blog article. An AHP is an arrangement that allows small businesses to band together to obtain healthcare coverage as if they were a single large employer. Read More ›

Categories: Department of Labor, Employee Benefits, Health Care Reform

Smile, You’re On Camera: Best Practices for Workplace Video Surveillance in Michigan

Preventing theft, avoiding frivolous lawsuits, increasing productivity, and improving workplace safety: these are all important objectives that employers in Michigan hope to achieve through monitoring their workers and work environments often with video surveillance. While video surveillance can be an important asset for an employer, it can also lead to liability if your surveillance program runs afoul of the law. Read More ›

Categories: Cybersecurity, Employee Handbook, Employment, Labor Relations, Privacy, Technology

Conflict at Work: Is it Harassment or is it Bullying?

Employers have known for a long time the legal implications of harassment in the workplace. And, while bullying gets considerable attention in schools, it is only now starting to gain attention in the workplace. But employers must be aware that ignoring bullying in the workplace may also expose them to significant legal liability. Read More ›

Categories: Did you Know?, Employment, Harassment, Lawsuit, Liability

Recent Changes to Michigan's Paid Medical Leave Requirements

On December 14, 2018, Governor Snyder signed into law the Paid Medical Leave Act ("PMLA"), which requires certain Michigan employers to provide paid medical leave to eligible employees. Read More ›

Categories: Employee Benefits, Employee Handbook

What Every Michigan Employer Should Know About Occupational Safety and Health in the Workplace

Regardless of working environment, be it a construction site or retail store, employers have a responsibility to provide workers with a safe place to work, and workers, likewise, must adhere to workplace health and safety guidance. Nonetheless, accidents, injuries and illnesses occur in the workplace. Read More ›

Categories: OSHA and MIOSHA