Supreme Court Ruling on Religious Accommodations

In the Supreme Court ruling in Groff v. DeJoy, issued on June 29, the Court unanimously held that employers can only deny an employee’s request for a religious accommodation under federal law if they can prove that it would result in a substantial increase in costs for the business.

Fitness-for-Duty Employee Exams

The ADA poses limitations on when an employer can request a fitness-for-duty examination. You need reasonable belief based on OBJECTIVE evidence that the employee’s health condition may either: prevent them from performing essential job functions or pose a threat to themselves or others. Don’t make assumptions.

Layoff Considerations

Everyone involved, from the people making the cuts to the people receiving the news, can feel the emotional and psychological strain of a workforce reduction. No company wants to lay off workers because of the emotional toll it takes on everyone involved. But when the time comes to lay off employees, it’s important to take […]

Employee References: The Good, Bad & Ugly

A recommendation from an employer must be given in a fair, honest, and accurate manner. You as an employer, have responsibilities not only to the person being referenced but also to the person requesting the reference. Therefore, the reference should be honest and not overly positive if it is not warranted or overly negative if that […]

Do Employers Need to Pay Their Interns?

Internships are governed by the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure that workers are paid fairly, and interns are often paid at least the federal minimum wage. Internships, which are sometimes misunderstood as unpaid work, are actually short-term learning opportunities for students or prospective employees to gain practical experience in their field. If you’re not […]

Avoiding Retaliation Claims

A Florida employee who engages in activities protected by law or who reports labor law violations by their employer is protected from termination under both federal and state law. Any adverse action taken by an employer towards an employee is considered retaliation. Some adverse actions that could be considered as retaliation are harassment that persists, poor performance […]