Adam Santucci

Subscribe to Adam Santucci's Posts
Follow:Read more about Adam SantucciAdam's Twitter Profile

A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) recently concluded that an employer violated the National Labor Relations Act (Act) by implementing a "no gossip policy" and by firing an employee who violated the policy. The case, Laurus Technical Institute, involved a non-union employer. As we have reported before, the NLRB’s jurisdiction…

While you are busy with the required Hazard Classification Training that we told you about last week, you might want to make time to review any safety incentive programs that you have in place.

OSHA has issued a controversial internal Memo on Employer Safety Incentive and Disincentive Policies. In a nutshell, OSHA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary gave Regional Administrators and Whistleblower Program Managers another target – employers who reward employees for safety!
Continue Reading OSHA Targets Safety Incentive and Disincentive Policies

In a recent blog post, we discussed the legal issues associated with employer use of payroll debit cards in lieu of printed paychecks. We concluded that because of the lack of federal and state regulatory guidance on the issue, it was unclear whether employers could elect to pay wages exclusively through payroll debit cards.

Last week, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued Bulletin 2013-10 (pdf) on the subject of payroll card accounts.
Continue Reading CFPB Weighs in on Employer Use of Payroll Cards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) that is designed to enhance employee health and safety by aligning the classification and labeling of chemicals in the United States with international standards (as established by the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)). As explained in more detail below, the first phase of compliance requires employers to provide training to employees, by December 1, 2013, with respect to the new HCS label elements and Safety Data Sheet formats. The new HCS and related training requirement apply to all employers, regardless of size or industry, with any hazardous chemicals in their workplaces.
Continue Reading OSHA’S NEW HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD: EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO EMPLOYEES BY DECEMBER 1, 2013

As expected, new U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez has wasted little time implementing a number of agenda items in the few short weeks since his Senate confirmation. Secretary Perez announced two new rules that amend longstanding regulations under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, which deal with federal contractors’ and subcontractor’s affirmative action and nondiscrimination obligations toward protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Among other things, these new rules establish specific hiring metrics, data collection practices, and recordkeeping requirements that federal contractors must implement for veterans and disabled individuals seeking employment.
Continue Reading DOL TO COMPEL FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO HIRE MORE VETERANS AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS

Recently, the practice of paying employees via payroll debit cards came under fire when an employee filed a class action lawsuit against her employer, a McDonalds’ franchisee, alleging that payment of wages via a Chase Payroll Card violated the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law (“PWPCL”). The employee claimed that the card’s fees cut into her wages, potentially bringing her pay below minimum wage, and that she and other class members were not being “paid in lawful money” as required by the PWPCL. The case currently is pending in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

As demonstrated by the lawsuit recently filed in Luzerne County, it remains unclear whether the use of such cards complies with Pennsylvania law.
Continue Reading Taking the Check Out of Paycheck: The Legality of Payroll Debit Cards

In the last several years, there has been an explosion in the number of workers who use their own personal mobile devices to perform work functions (commonly referred to as “Bring Your Own Device” or “BYOD”). In fact, according to a study conducted last year by tech giant Cisco, approximately 90% of all workers say they use their own personal smartphones, tablets or laptops in some work-related capacity, whether the practice is officially endorsed by their employers or not.

Whether or not you believe that the benefits outweigh the risks, it does not appear BYOD is going anywhere in the near future. Accordingly, employers should adopt comprehensive BYOD plans to mitigate potential security risks and legal liability that naturally comes along with employees utilizing personal mobile devices to perform work tasks. At a minimum, every BYOD plan should address three core components.
Continue Reading Security is Key to “BYOD” Policies

The Supreme Court of the United States continued its hot streak in the arbitration and class action waiver arena with two recent decisions. These decisions are important for employers because they may offer employers a way control expenses related to dispute resolution with employees. Because those expenses can be so high, many employers are considering implementing employment arbitration agreements, consistent with the direction provided by the Court.
Continue Reading Be Clear: Include Class Arbitration Waivers in Arbitration Clauses