OSHA is recommending that major retailers set up crowd management plans as a safety precaution to protect workers from being injured or trampled by customers on Black Friday. OSHA's recommendations are in response to increased shopping that have caused dangerous workplace hazards, even leading to a worker being trampled to death in 2008, on the busiest shopping day of the year.
OSHA is recommending that each store's crowd management plan includes on-site security guards, barricades for customers as they wait in line to enter the store, an explanation to the customer as to how they can enter the store safely, limits on how many customers can enter the store, and an emergency plan when something goes awry. OSHA's guideline also advises stores to plan ahead and have the proper amount of staffing to manage the crowds, and urges stores to have a separate entrances for staff so that they can enter and exit the store safely.
OSHA issued these guidelines so that staff and employees can enjoy the busiest shopping day of the year in the safest manner possible.
This blog was posted by Ambuter Law, an employment law firm focusing on employee rights. If you have a question regarding your rights in the workplace, contact Ambuter Law for your free case evaluation.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Do's and Don'ts in the Workplace on Election Day
It's that time of year - election time. With the hustle and bustle of voting in the election and still maintaining professionalism in the workplace, there are a few Do's and Don'ts that employers should be aware of on election day.
1) Do allow time for your employees to vote. Although Florida does not have a specific law allowing employees time off to vote, it's usually a good business practice to allow your employees to take extra time during lunch so that they can vote in the election.
2) Don't pressure your employees to vote for a specific candidate. It is a federal crime for an employer (or anyone else) to interfere with an individual's ability to vote for federal candidates, to coerce an individual to cast a ballot in a specific way, or to bribe an individual in exchange for voting a certain way. See 18 U.S.C. § 594 and § 597.
3) Don't allow employees to conduct political activities in the workplace. While an employee is entitled to their own political views, you don't want your employee discussing or raising those views in the workplace. Heated political discussions may erupt, which may cause distraction and animosity in the workplace. Private employers should consider limiting these types of discussions in the workplace, and find an avenue for uncomfortable employees to voice their concerns.
This blog was posted by Ambuter Law, an employment law firm focused on representing employees.
1) Do allow time for your employees to vote. Although Florida does not have a specific law allowing employees time off to vote, it's usually a good business practice to allow your employees to take extra time during lunch so that they can vote in the election.
2) Don't pressure your employees to vote for a specific candidate. It is a federal crime for an employer (or anyone else) to interfere with an individual's ability to vote for federal candidates, to coerce an individual to cast a ballot in a specific way, or to bribe an individual in exchange for voting a certain way. See 18 U.S.C. § 594 and § 597.
3) Don't allow employees to conduct political activities in the workplace. While an employee is entitled to their own political views, you don't want your employee discussing or raising those views in the workplace. Heated political discussions may erupt, which may cause distraction and animosity in the workplace. Private employers should consider limiting these types of discussions in the workplace, and find an avenue for uncomfortable employees to voice their concerns.
This blog was posted by Ambuter Law, an employment law firm focused on representing employees.
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