Policies / Handbooks

Clear rules and good records essential

10/24/2019

Employers that have clear rules showing exactly what they expect from employees have a huge leg up if they are sued for discrimination.

Lawsuit over promotion she never applied for

10/24/2019

Usually, employees must actually apply for a job before they can sue for not being promoted. Generally, just telling a supervisor that one is interested in the idea of a promotion isn’t enough, either. However, that doesn’t mean someone always has to formally fill out an application.

You’ll pay if dress code incites harassment

10/21/2019

If you are in the restaurant or entertainment industry and require employees to wear revealing outfits at work, prepare for an unfortunate if entirely predictable consequence: Customers may harass your workers.

Prevention key to cutting harassment liability

08/29/2019

The best way to avoid liability for sexual harassment is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. That’s why it’s so important to educate supervisors on your sexual harassment policy.

McDonald’s strict grooming policy riles EEOC

08/01/2019

McDonald’s—the restaurant that pumps out carbon-copy burgers and unfailingly flawless fries—has found the limits of its exacting standards. People, it appears, cannot be packaged nearly so precisely.

How rigid can our dress code be about imposing grooming standards?

07/30/2019

Q. Can we require male employees to keep their hair short? Also, can we require male employees to shave their beards?

Anti-harassment policies evolving after #MeToo

07/30/2019

In a survey, 51% of companies reported reviewing their sexual harassment policies since the #MeToo movement emerged as a cultural and business force in the fall of 2017.

Marijuana policies up for grabs despite restrictive DEA rulings

07/09/2019

Twice in the last three years, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration has denied petitions to “reschedule” marijuana under the Controlled Sub-stances Act—despite a growing number of state initiatives to legalize it.

No cannabis testing for NYC employers starting in 2020

06/13/2019

If you are a New York City employer, now is the time to ensure your drug testing policies and job applications do not mention testing for marijuana or THC.

Ensure dress code allows for religious needs

06/11/2019

Your dress code must allow some leeway for religious exemptions. The EEOC takes religious discrimination seriously and has been aggressively going after employers that enforce dress codes that unnecessarily restrict employees’ faith-mandated attire.