Human Resources

Keeping Politics Out of the Workplace

In this election season, employers are facing the daunting challenge of keeping peace among employees with differing political views. OMA Connections Partner Frantz Ward has published this guidance to help employers update their policies on political speech in the workplace — including bans on political hats, buttons, clothes, and banners. 9/21/2020

Open Q&A Sessions About NAM Health Care Benefits

There are two opportunities to learn how the OMA helps members offer their employees affordable, comprehensive health care plans similar to what much larger companies offer.

A collaboration of the OMA, the National Association of Manufacturers, Mercer and UnitedHealthcare allows small and mid-sized businesses to offer easy and convenient, Fortune 500-type benefits and enrollment to employees and their families.

• Register here for the briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 1:30 p.m. (ET).
• Register here for the briefing on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. (ET).

Or contact One Source Advisors, OMA’s endorsed health care broker, to learn more right now. 9/20/2020

New Analysis of Ohio Supreme Court’s Drug Testing Decision

As we reported earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Ohio recently held that the privacy of an at-will employee is not invaded when the employee is required to produce a urine sample while being monitored by a same-sex employer representative.

OMA General Counsel Bricker & Eckler has published this analysis of the decision. According to the firm, while the ruling strengthens an employer’s ability to effectively maintain a drug-free workplace, employers that intend to use the direct observation method may wish to update their substance abuse policies to notify employees of when they may use this method. 9/16/2020

OMA Testifies on Unemployment Compensation System Review Bill

This week, the OMA provided testimony to Senate lawmakers regarding House Bill 614, legislation that aims to study and reform Ohio’s unemployment compensation system. HB 614 passed the House in May.

The bill would create new operations for inquiries and notifications, while also creating the Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council to review and research current Ohio unemployment compensation administrative practices. Interestingly enough, the council would not be allowed to review solvency issues. As OMA members know, Ohio’s unemployment system solvency has been in question for some time. 9/17/2020

Webinar Will Offer Tips for Navigating Unemployment System

At 11 a.m. (ET) on Wednesday, Sept. 30, OMA Connections Partner Roetzel will host a free webinar to help businesses navigate Ohio’s unemployment insurance (UI) system. The webinar will offer tips and best practices for administering a company’s UI claims, including strategies for responding to a former (or current) employee’s claim, as well as guidance on deciding whether to appeal an adverse ruling. Register here. 9/14/2020

Revised DOL Rule Addresses COVID-19 Leave

In response to a legal challenge, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued a new temporary rule interpreting the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and its provisions addressing employee leave during COVID-19. The new rule was issued to revise and clarify several parts of an earlier DOL rule that were struck down by a New York federal court.

Read this summary by OMA Connections Partner Thompson Hine, as well as this summary by OMA Connections Partner Roetzel. 9/14/2020

Court Says NLRB Was Too Hard on Company for Blunders Before Union Election

A federal appeals court has ruled that an employer unlawfully fired a union supporter and made coercive threats to workers before a union election, but determined the National Labor Relations Board’s remedies for those infractions were too harsh. For more on the court’s decision, read this summary by OMA Connections Partner Dinsmore. 9/14/2020

Employer Checklist: Returning Employees to the Workplace

Are you bringing your employees — or additional employees — back to the workplace? Now is time to ensure your business has best practices in place for employee health. OMA Connections Partner Clark Schaefer Hackett has published this printable checklist of key items to include in your planning. 9/10/2020

EEOC Provides New Guidance on Compliance During COVID-19

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has again updated its guidance regarding employees returning to work during the pandemic. A revised Q&A document published this week addresses another set of common questions that have arisen under the ADA and other anti-discrimination laws.

Read this analysis from OMA Connections Partner Roetzel for more on this development. 9/9/2020

Addressing Election-Season Workplace Tensions

As if 2020 hasn’t been challenging enough for employers, we’ve now entered the final two months of a contentious presidential election. OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published this article addressing some common misconceptions held by employees and employers when it comes to political speech — and how to respond to problems should they arise. 9/9/2020