18 States Consider Limits on Use of Credit Reports in Screening

March 30th, 2011 Posted by Amelia

Florida, and Montana recently joined 15 states that are considering limits to employers’ use of credit reports in hiring and other .

 

Similar bills are being considered by state legislatures in California, , Connecticut, Indiana, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Nebraska, New York, New Mexico, Ohio, , Pennsylvania and Vermont. Check back frequently for the latest updates on those bills.

 

By contrast, New Jersey is currently considering a that would allow employers to share an employee’s or former employee’s credit history, work evaluations and other information in the personnel file with prospective employers or government agencies.

 

In the last three years Washington, , Oregon and Illinois have passed laws limiting the use of credit reports in hiring. A similar failed to pass in Colorado.

 

In most of these states, the limits to an employer’s use of credit checks apply to all employment decisions. However, the Florida and Michigan bills would only restrict use of credit history in hiring. An employer could still use a for employment decisions regarding current employees.

 

In Florida, Senate Bill 1562 would make use of credit scores an “improper employment practice” unless (more…)

No Comments >> Posted in California,Employment Laws,Flordia,Labor and Employment,Labor and Employment,Labor and Employment,Labor and Employment,Michigan,Montana
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Michigan Smoke-Free Law Goes Into Effect

April 23rd, 2010 Posted by Derrick

The Michigan Smoke-Free Law goes into effect on May 1, 2010. Employers need to act now to post “no smoking” signs (including those with the international symbol for no ) at entrances. Signs must also be posted on outdoor patios and rooftops if food and beverages are served there.

 

Employers must also remove ashtrays and any equipment or furnishing that is necessarily used for smoking. Employers and supervisors are required by to inform any worker who smokes that he or she is in violation of law and subject to fines and penalties. In addition, employers are required by law to refuse service to any individual customer who is smoking. Under the law, the employer must ask a customer who is smoking to stop. If the customer refuses, the employer must ask him or her to leave the premises.

 

The act is also referred to as the Ron M. Davis Law, after the former Chief Medical Officer of the Michigan Department of Community Health. It prohibits smoking in bars, restaurants and other public spaces, including most workplaces. Under the law, smoking is banned in malls, bowling alleys, arenas, museums, mechanic shops, health clubs, nursing homes, schools and child care centers. The law also bans smoking in offices, even in private offices in commercial buildings.

 

The Michigan law bans smoking in places of employment defined as enclosed indoor areas with one or more work areas, for one or more persons. Home offices are exempt if they are used as a primary residence and only one person works there.

 

Smoking is also prohibited in indoor (more…)

No Comments >> Posted in Employment Laws,Labor and Employment,Michigan
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Michigan Smoking Ban Regulations

December 25th, 2009 Posted by Jolie

will be prohibited in all public places and indoor workplaces including restaurants, hotels and bars under the Michigan Smoking Ban. Under the , the “” is defined as any place that serves food or drink and has at least one employee.

 

Smoking will still be permitted in vehicles, even those vehicles used for work. It will also be permitted in home offices, according to the Detroit Free Press.

 

As we previously reported, Michigan is the 38th to pass a smoking , which becomes effective on May 1, 2010. An exception to the will permit smoking on the gambling floor of the Detroit-area casinos, while prohibiting smoking in casino bars, restaurants and hotels.

 

Hookah bars and cigar bars can continue to operate as long as they do not serve any food or beverages. Smoking is banned on the outdoor patios of restaurants, and in all hotel rooms. on construction sites are permitted to smoke outside, but not inside.

 

This law is the result of a decade-long effort by Michigan legislators, mostly Democrats, to implement a smoking ban. A recent survey shows that 66% of voters support some type of smoking ban.

 

Employers must post appropriate signs throughout the workplace, especially at entrances and exits. Ashtrays and other smoking implements are prohibited. If an employee is caught smoking, the employee will be subject to tickets, fines and penalties. The fine is $100 for the first violation and up to $500 for subsequent violation. This also applies to customers, (more…)

10 Comments >> Posted in Employment Laws,Labor and Employment,Michigan
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States Require E-Verify

October 9th, 2008 Posted by Cara

Employers in several states, including Mississippi, and Arizona, are required by law to use - to check every new employee’s documentation.

 

In Texas, Hawaii, and eleven other states, employers are strongly urged to use E-Verify.

 

Tax incentives are offered in some states, like Georgia, to employers that utilize . , and sub- are already required to use by most states.

 

Many states are (more…)

2 Comments >> Posted in Equal Employment Opportunity,Federal Labor Laws,Regulations
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Michigan Smoking Ban

August 12th, 2008 Posted by Amelia

seems poised to pass a that would affect almost all employers, including restaurants and bars, in the next legislative session. Both the house and senate passed bills protecting employees from second-hand smoke in the in 2008. However, the two bills had significant differences and the legislature was unable to resolve those differences before they adjourned for the summer in late May.

 

Bills to ban smoking in restaurants and bars were introduced in 2007 in both the Michigan House and Senate. In each case, the bills generated a lot of debate and were sent into the 2008 legislative session.

 

In the spring of 2008, (more…)

11 Comments >> Posted in Employment Laws,Labor and Employment,Michigan,Michigan
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