Most residential landlords know they have a duty to keep to keep their property safe for its residents. Most landlords do not know that this duty has been written into law, and it requires the property be “fit for its intended use.” MCL 554.139. Even less people know that this duty can be modified and …
OSHA, the federal agency that creates and enforces worker safety rules, has new rules going into effect on December 1, 2016. Michigan has an OSHA-approved state plan, so the Michigan’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration applies to most employers in the State of Michigan. However, the federal government retains enforcement of the anti-retaliation provisions of …
Do your employment policies comply with the new OSHA guidelines? Read More »
Many employers are struggling with the new higher salary requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The new law (going into effect December 1, 2016) effectively doubles the required minimum salary amount that must be paid. The old rule required a salary of $23,660 and the new rule requires a minimum salary of $47,476, …
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has interpreted the federal law barring workplace gender bias to include a ban on discrimination against gay workers. The EEOC said that “discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is premised on sex-based preferences, assumptions, expectations, stereotypes, or norms. ‘Sexual orientation’ as a concept cannot be defined or understood …
Employers that sponsor health insurance plans for its employees, even those plans largely managed through an insurance company, are required to provide detailed information regarding the plan and rights under the law to employees. The Department of Labor, the agency responsible for enforcing ERISA, can impose large fines for failing to provide updated employee benefit …
Employees often complain about a verbally and sometimes physically aggressive co-worker. Workplace bullying can be pervasive and leave victims relatively helpless if management is unwilling to put a stop to it, and sometimes the screaming boss is the culprit. However, failing to put a stop to bullying and aggressive behavior in the workplace does not …
Bullying in the workplace: a “hostile workplace”? Read More »
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a minefield for any business that is interested in marketing by phone calls, text messages or faxes. This law restricts telephone solicitation, among other things. This law also applies to text messages that would be deemed solicitations. For example, sending a text message solicitation could violate the TCPA …
If you are a business and discover that your computers or other records have been compromised with a security breach, you may have some responsibilities under Michigan’s Identity Theft Protection Act. This law requires notices be sent to customers if any of their sensitive data (such as Social Security numbers, bank account information or credit …
Been Hacked? You Might Need to Tell Your Customers Read More »
