PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has agreed to pay $11.625 million to settle a lawsuit claiming the global accounting firm discriminated against older applicants for entry level positions. In 2019, a class action was filed against the company which accused PwC of systematically discriminating against older applicants for associate, experienced associate, or senior associate positions in the firm’s tax or assurance practices. The proposed settlement includes about 5,000 applicants who...
With Governor Whitmer’s new executive order, any non-essential employees are now working remotely where possible. Employees are experiencing great stress during this time. As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on our nation, it’s important for employers to find ways to boost morale.
In news other than the Coronavirus, an employer successfully defended a lawsuit alleging it did not properly accommodate a disability. Early this month the Sixth Circuit handed down a ruling upholding a lower court’s summary judgement in favor of the employer. The decision held that in this case the employee’s actions leading up to his lawsuit amounted to him erroneously trying to use the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) as a weapon to pressure his employer into granting an...
Monday, March 23rd, Governor Whitmer announced an expansion of Executive Order 2020-21 that in order to suppress the spread of COVID-19, to prevent the state’s health care system from being overwhelmed, to allow time for the production of critical test kits, ventilators, and personal protective equipment, and to avoid needless deaths, it is reasonable and necessary to direct residents to remain at home or in their place of residence to the maximum extent feasible.
On March 18th, ASE released a survey that tracked employer’s growing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey, launched when there were just 26 confirmed cases in Michigan, provides a comprehensive look at efforts and measures employers have taken or are considering in response to both human resource and business continuity concerns.
DHS is relaxing I-9 Section 2 document physical inspection requirements: ASE was receiving a lot of questions concerning remote work and onboarding of employees. We followed up with the Department of Homeland Security and it has modified its policy during this pandemic time. Specifically, DHS states:
1. An employee reports to work with a bad cough and/or fever. What questions can HR or a manager ask of this employee?
Managers can accidentally violate the Americans with Disabilities Act if the query delves into the worker's medical history.
IRS issues Notice 2020-15 concerning HDHPs and COVID-19: On March 11, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2020-15 concerning high deductible health plans (HDHPs) and the Coronavirus known as COVID-19.
Employers are taking quick action to keep their employees safe from COVID-19 (Coronoavirus). According to the March study of 1,097 adults, a third of respondents say their organizations have a plan in place they are confident about and 43% have a basic plan—even if it is "hastily assembled". Most plans center on remote work and travel restrictions. Specifically:
On Wednesday, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201), which was passed by the Senate earlier that day. Mr. Mnuchin, the U.S. Secretary of Treasury, stated that the law is only the second in what is likely to be multiple legislative efforts to protect the economy—including workers and businesses—from the fallout of the spreading Coronavirus.
The Coronavirus pandemic is unlike anything any of us have experienced. ASE is closely monitoring the guidance of the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state health agencies regarding the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our focus is to meet our members’ needs while doing our part to keep you, our employees, and our communities healthy and safe.
There are a lot of moving parts that HR has to stay on top of to effectively respond to the impact and fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. ASE is keeping up on the employer end of this topic with a dedicated Coronavirus webpage. A survey on employer practices is being conducted to help with planning and decisions. Some preliminary data pertaining to employers’ actions around layoffs and unemployment is provided below. ASE is also adding new classes and webinars designed to keep...
Tougher interviews make for more loyal employees: Making job interviews more challenging could be a cost-effective way for employers to entice new hires, according to new research from the job-review website Glassdoor. Young workers were more receptive than older workers to tough job interviews, with accepted offers among candidates ages 25 to 34 rising 3.1 percentage points after more difficult screenings.
Last week the Michigan Appeals Court issued a published opinion ruling that an employee injured while travelling from home to work did have a valid workers' compensation claim. Normally injuries incurred going to or coming from work are not compensable under Michigan Workers’ Compensation law. However, in the case of Smith v. Chrysler Group, LLC (No.339705) 2/25/2020, the Court, in overruling the Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission’s previous holding, found the...
Recent statistics reveal that March Madness has become more popular than ever before, due in large part to the worldwide betting that takes place. Over 60 million people are expected to fill out brackets this year, with an estimated $10 million being put on the table. This can also result in a downturn in employee productivity.