The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly referred to as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Health Care Reform Law, has been and continues to be the target of much debate since the federal statute was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. Most recently, for-profit corporations with religious… Continue Reading
Hospitality Day at the State House
Wednesday, May 7, 2014 is Hospitality Day at the State House hosted by the South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (SCRLA). During this event, the restaurant and hotel industry will speak with lawmakers about how important food service, lodging and tourism is to the state’s economy. Some of the issues the SCRLA is battling at… Continue Reading
New Year’s Resolutions: Don’t Let Volunteer Efforts Become a Legal Hazard
While we do not like thinking about legal or safety matters when it comes to things that make us feel good, remembering some key points can help ensure the experience remains a safe and positive one for both the volunteer and the organization. Tips for organizations that use volunteers: Have volunteers sign a “hold harmless… Continue Reading
Top Ten Employer Mistakes made too Often
This article was originally posted June 14, 2013 by Nicole Curtis on the Columbia Chamber Blog. By Charles L. Appleby, IV In honor of Small Business Week, Collins & Lacy attorneys teamed up with the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce to talk to small business owners in the community. I chose to speak about Employment Law, Social… Continue Reading
New I-9 Form takes effect in less than a week. Are you ready?
In less than a week, employers are required to use the new I-9 Form to verify the identity and employment authorization of each employee hired in the United States. The revised I-9 Form takes effect May 8, 2013. Employers could face up to $1,100 per violation if they fail to meet the rules. The U.S. Citizenship and… Continue Reading
New Form I-9 – Mandatory for Employers
As you may remember from prior immigration articles, employers are required to complete a Form I-9 to verify the identity and employment authorization of each employee hired in the United States. Businesses are required to keep the form for as long as an individual works for the company and for the required amount of time after termination,… Continue Reading
Do I really have to pay for that? Department of Labor Continues to Crack Down on Hospitality Industry
The Department of Labor is cracking down on employers allegedly failing to pay employee wages. Since 2009, the Department of Labor’s Columbia, South Carolina District Office has concluded more than 300 restaurant investigations, resulting in restaurants paying more than $2.5 million in back wages for more than 2,500 workers. Michelle Garvey, director of the division’s… Continue Reading
Free Evidence On Protecting Guests – Want It To Work For You or Against You?
As discussed in previous articles, (see “When Hard Hits of Football Season End Up Between Fans at Your Business” and “South Carolina Hospitality-Related Businesses Have Obligations to Protect Guests”), a retailer or hospitality establishment in South Carolina is not the insurer of the safety of its guests. However, it has also been well settled that… Continue Reading
Social Media Update – Employee Facebook Passwords
Can I ask my employees/job applicants for passwords to their Facebook account? InSouth Carolina, employers are still allowed to ask for this information. However, as of January 2013, there are six (6) different states where this is prohibited. Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Delaware, California and New Jersey all have new laws taking effect this year that prohibit employers… Continue Reading
Making Your Employment Policies NLRB-Compliant for Social Media & Contacting the Media or Government Agencies
This article can also be found in the latest Employment Answers Quarterly e-newsletter I actually really like my law firm, but if I wanted to say I hated it, the NLRB would protect me. In the most recent decision issued November 14, 2012, the NLRB attacked a company for having one policy that prohibits employees… Continue Reading
