Editor’s Note

As businesses contemplate on reopening, there is this one issue that is the most daunting of all. Companies need to decide whether to screen or test returning employees for COVID-19.

Things can go wrong on several fronts if one is not careful. Regardless of whether a business is legally required to perform testing on employees entering its facility, or the company simply decides on its own to do so, any testing needs to be done properly, cautiously, and applied to all employees equally. This month’s cover article COVID-19: To Test Or Not To Test by Todd R. Wulffson talks about key steps employers should consider to ensure the testing procedure is legally compliant, reliable, and effective. 
 

With COVID-19 continuing to impact business operations for the foreseeable future, now is a good time to review your drug and alcohol policy. With many employees working from home and internet memes poking fun at the increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic, it is easy to see that drug and alcohol use during work hours may be more prevalent. Wilson S. Jarrell, in his article, Workplace Drug And Alcohol Policies In The Era Of COVID-19, shares key insights on how to apply drug and alcohol policy to remote workforce.
 
In the face of the changing work environment due to COVID-19, it’s more important than ever for businesses of all sizes to make sure they’re abiding by HR compliance. Read Dan Marzullo’s article Working From Home And New Policies Are Fueling HR Compliance Concerns, where he talks about how to stay up-to-date with regulations as your company navigates your work environment during COVID-19.

The times they are a-changin’ and Washington’s rules relating to overtime pay are changing with them. Effective July 1, 2020, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (“L&I”) has updated the criteria for workers to be exempt from receiving overtime pay, paid sick leave, and other requirements under the state Minimum Wage Act. Catch up with Nancy Gunzenhauser Popper, Eric Emanuelson & Jacqueline E. Scher’s article “White Collar” Overtime Exemption Rules, to know what the rule says.

This is not all. This month’s issue of HR Legal & Compliance Excellence brings to you the best practices and tools to keep yourself protected and compliant.

Stay Safe!
 

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