Have You Reviewed Your Website’s Terms of Use Lately?
While most readers quickly peruse these Terms of Use—if even at all—companies should consider publishing (or revising) a Terms of Use on their websites.
Avoiding Pitfalls in Online Sales to Consumers
As a result of the pandemic, more consumers are shopping online, and businesses are adapting by creating e-commerce options. One issue that is often overlooked in the e-commerce setting is website accessibility for those with disabilities.
Cal/OSHA Issues Draft Semi-Permanent COVID-19 Rules
As employers know, Cal/OSHA enacted COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (“ETS”). Just recently, Cal/OSHA has published draft semi-permanent standards that, if enacted, would supersede the current ETS for a period of two or three years.
Reading OSHA’s Tea Leaves
Earlier this month, employers heard that federal OSHA is planning to roll out a national vaccine-or-testing mandate for large employers (i.e., employers with a workforce of at least 100 employees). While details of that mandate have not been made public yet, employers would do well to plan ahead.
The Biden Administration Vax Mandate for Federal Contractors
By September 24, 2021, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force is required to publish the new safety COVID-19 protocols requirements for contractors and subcontractors. We are still waiting for these guidelines to be released. However, the Task Force released a FAQ on September 20, 2021, that provides some clarity relating to federal contractors and vaccination status requirements when working on government sites.
Arbitrating Employee Disputes in California: A Thing of the Past?
Employers in California are no longer able to require their employees to arbitrate work-related grievances. This stunning ruling was handed down yesterday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In its decision, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the legality of California’s anti-arbitration law known as Assembly Bill 51.
Coming Soon: Federal Vaccination Mandates for Large Employers
On September 9, 2021, the Biden Administration announced that employers with 100 employees or more will be—in the near future— required to ensure that their workplace is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or otherwise subject to at least weekly COVID-19 testing before coming to work. It is estimated that the new rule will affect at least 80 million workers in the private sector.
Compensating Employees for Workplace Injuries
Employees must be paid for the time spent waiting for and receiving medical attention for a work-related injury (e.g., initial doctor visit). In fact, under the California Labor Code, employees are entitled to receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses, along with lost wages, when they submit to an examination by a physician at the request of the employer, the insurer, the administrative director, the appeals board, or a workers’ compensation administrative law judge.
Compliance with California’s Privacy Laws & CalOPPA
California has one of the strictest privacy laws in the United States. One such law, California’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“CalOPPA”), requires that any person or entity that owns or operates a commercial website or online service that collects personally identifiable information (“PII”) from California residents to have clearly visible and accessible privacy policies. These privacy policies must provide consumers notice on what type of PII the business collects and what the business does with the PII.
The Importance of Acknowledging and Appreciating Your Employees
The most important elements of a business are (1) the employees and (2) the customers. All employees comprise the core of every business. Without employee acknowledgment and appreciation, your business’ path to achieving its strategic goals, mission and/or vision becomes measurably more difficult.
