Could the federal government be behind a movement of obesity discrimination in the workplace? Some are asserting that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) LEAN Works! program is boosting anti-fat sentiment at work by tying the costs of overweight employees to their bottom line. LEAN Works! provided employers with an obesity cost calculator, which allowed them to draw a parallel between the cost associated with the overweight employees and their financial losses. The CDC stated … [Read more...]
Mandatory Arbitration: CFPB Study Brings the Debate to Congress
The growing use of mandatory arbitration has become a hot topic among businesses and consumers, which has led the debate all the way to Congress, with billions of dollars potentially at stake. Like many issues brought to Congress, a government agency has been given the task to study arbitration, causing both financial institutions and consumer groups to lobby to influence the study's design, reports the American Banker.The study is expected to widely influence implementation of the Dodd-Frank … [Read more...]
Farm Worker Rights: California Weighs Tougher Heat Rules
With temperatures soaring to triple digits in some areas, precautions to help prevent heat-related deaths and illnesses should be mandatory. Farm workers are entitled to simple protections that could save their lives. There should never be a choice between their lives or supporting their families working in the extreme heat at the risk of their health. With temperatures in the Central Valley recently surpassing 110 degrees and state regulators investigating two possible heat-related deaths in … [Read more...]
Common Lawsuits Against Employers: 10 Ways Your Business Could End Up In Court
In our litigious society, you can never be too careful. And even a careless mistake can become a valid reason for an employee to file a lawsuit against you. For employers, simply trying to be nice and go the extra mile to help an employee could land you in court for inadvertently violating employment laws. In a new report the California Chamber of Commerce details that "employers may unintentionally violate employment laws simply by trying to provide some flexibility for an employee, save money … [Read more...]
Forced Arbitration Is a Bad Deal for Financial Services Consumers
Consumers may have a chance in disputes with financial institutions if the CFPB is able to limit forced arbitration. The financial industry loves forced arbitration and for good reason. When a consumer "agrees" to the bank's required terms of doing business with it, if there are any problems, the consumer is prevented from seeking redress in the courts. Consumers can't band together in class action lawsuits either, under the terms of these agreements. An arbitration is essentially a private … [Read more...]