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Oct 03 2025
Safety and Health

Q&A: Do we need to provide prescription safety glasses?

Answer: The short answer is no. Safety regulations require employers to provide necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) at no cost to employees. However, this typically refers to standard safety gear such as safety goggles that fit over prescription eyeglasses, not custom prescription safety eyewear. Providing safety goggles generally complies with regulatory standards and protects employee…

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Sep 19 2025
Wage and HourWashington

Any applicant in Washington can sue for noncompliant job posting

The Washington Supreme Court recently ruled that job applicants aren’t required to prove that they had a genuine interest in a job in order to collect damages for noncompliant job postings under Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (“EPOA”). Two applicants brought a class action lawsuit alleging that they applied for jobs at a retail…

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Sep 11 2025
DisabilityLeave LawsTermination & Resignation

Avoid rigid enforcement of unforeseeable intermittent FMLA leave

The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that an employer was overly strict in limiting unforeseeable intermittent leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to the estimated frequency listed in an employee’s medical certification. A mail clerk had sickle cell anemia, which caused symptoms that varied in severity depending on…

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Sep 11 2025
DisabilityHarassment & DiscriminationLeave Laws

Q&A: Know how to deal with ghosting by employees

Question: We keep running into situations where employees stop showing up and communicating with us. Sometimes we don’t hear anything, sometimes they stop communicating while on approved leave, and sometimes we know they’re missing work due to a medical issue but they’re not calling in. How should we address these scenarios? Answer: Ghosting by employees…

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Sep 05 2025
DisabilityLeave LawsPrivacy & Confidentiality

Webinar: Washington’s New Employment Laws, Part II

Washington’s 2025 legislature passed a jaw-dropping amount of employment-related bills, all of which were signed by the governor. Starting this summer, these new laws impact the way employers post jobs, protect employees, manage records, accommodate requests, give leave, and prepare for layoffs. Join Vigilant Law Group employment attorney Jodi Slavik for Part II of a…

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Sep 05 2025
DisabilityPrivacy & Confidentiality

Q&A: Keep medical info confidential even if employee doesn’t

Question: An employee told most of his coworkers about his recent diagnosis of a serious health condition, then came to HR to request adjustments to his schedule and work duties while undergoing treatment. HR emailed the employee’s medical records to his supervisor, along with an explanation of the specific accommodations the employee needs. Now the…

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Sep 05 2025
DisabilityHarassment & DiscriminationSafety and Health

Lack of individual ADA assessment costs employer nearly $27M

A federal district court in Oregon recently awarded $26,952,863, including $25 million in punitive damages, to a train conductor whose employer automatically excluded him from returning to work after dislocating his shoulder. The employee, who had spent 20 years in the military and was physically active, injured his shoulder at home on his farm. He…

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Aug 26 2025
Leave LawsQ&ATermination & Resignation

Q&A: Verify documentation if terminating before scheduled leave

Question: An employee who is responsible for billing keeps making recordkeeping mistakes. Despite repeated coaching, there has been no improvement. The issues have gotten serious enough that her manager wants to terminate immediately. This employee was approved for two months of medical leave that begins next week. Do we have to wait until her leave…

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Aug 08 2025
Harassment & DiscriminationHiring

E-Verify employers should proactively check work status

Employers that use E-Verify as part of their Form I-9 process may be surprised to learn that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now expects them to regularly log into E-Verify to see whether any employees’ temporary work authorizations have been revoked. On June 20, 2025, DHS issued a notice explaining this new procedure. Parole…

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Aug 07 2025
Privacy & ConfidentialityQ&ASafety and Health

Q&A: Consider whether your company will allow smart glasses

Question: We have an employee who started wearing a pair of “smart” eyeglasses to work. We only found out because he showed his peers some pictures he took while working. We have a policy that prohibits cell phones on the production floor for this very reason. His glasses are prescription. Can we still ban them?…

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Jul 25 2025
DisabilityHarassment & DiscriminationSafety and Health

Q&A: Avoid 5 common mistakes in disability accommodation

Question: I have an employee who brought in a doctor’s note that says she should work from home any time her anxiety flares up. Most of her job can’t be done remotely, and I don’t think she’ll focus at home. Can I tell her “no”? Answer: Even if the accommodation isn’t feasible, you can’t say…

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Jul 25 2025
Safety and Health

OSHA renews focus on preventing amputations in manufacturing

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an update to the National Emphasis Program on Amputations in Manufacturing Industries, effective June 27, 2025. OSHA Directive CPL 03-00-027 renews the program and makes several significant changes. The directive is set to remain in effect for five years with the purpose of reducing and eliminating…

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