Same-sex marriage, paid sick leave, and wearables among the hottest issues
NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J., Dec. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Same-sex marriage, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) protections, accommodating a diverse workforce, paid sick leave, workplace wearables, and independent contractor rights are among the biggest challenges facing employers in 2016, says XpertHR's annual report on the scariest employment issues. Court cases, legislation, and regulatory actions have called into question the very nature of who is considered an employer and who is considered an employee as well as what rights and benefits employees should be entitled to.
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"From providing paid sick leave to extending equal rights and benefits to same-sex partners, employers must comply with new obligations," says Beth Zoller, Legal Editor, XpertHR. "An employer who is not prepared can face increased costs, including civil fines and fees, as well as criminal penalties, administrative complaints, potential litigation and harm to its business reputation."
XpertHR's top 10 scariest challenges employers will face in 2016 are:
1. Same-Sex Marriage
2. Expanding Protections for LGBT Individuals
3. Reasonable Accommodations for an Increasingly Diverse Workplace
4. Paid Sick Leave
5. National Labor Relations Board Pursuit of Workplace Policies
6. Workplace Wearables
7. Redefining and Expanding Who Is Entitled to Overtime and Raising the Minimum Wage
8. Providing Independent Contractors with Increased Workplace Rights
9. Revising the Joint Employer Standard and Expanding the Pool of Employers
10. Telecommuting and Flexible Work Arrangements
Honorable Mention: Health Care Reform
"To best protect themselves and avoid expensive lawsuits, employers should review and revise their workplace policies and practices and make sure that they are legally compliant," says Zoller.
To read the whitepaper, "Top Ten Scariest Employment Challenges of 2016," visit XpertHR.
About XpertHR
XpertHR's online service provides HR professionals with practical compliance tools and comprehensive guidance on federal, state and municipal law, helping employers stay current with evolving and complex employment law issues. XpertHR content is published in association with sister company LexisNexis. XpertHR.com is a unique, easy-to-use solution organized around the day-to-day responsibilities of HR professionals. In addition to smart search features, you can browse through content by task, by topic, or by tool type to help you find just what you need in seconds. Our key features include the popular Employment Law Manual and Liveflo employment workflows.
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Media Contact:
Beth Brody, fisher VISTA (For XpertHR)
Email
609-397-3737