Wondering if you’re in compliance with latest HR law? Here’s the most common compliance mistakes being made now based on legislative changes over the last 15 months:

OSHA Change: Effective October 16, 2016

Is it your policy that you will drug screen anyone involved in a work place accident that results in injury?  You’re not allowed to do that anymore. Based on the changes made last fall, post-accident testing should only be done if you have a reasonable suspicion that a controlled substance was involved.

Section 1904.35(b)(1)(iv) “When evaluating whether an employer had a reasonable basis for drug testing an employee who reported a work-related injury or illness, the central inquiry will be whether the employer had a reasonable basis for believing that drug use by the reporting employee could have contributed to the injury or illness.”

Contact Simple HR Solutions for details on what constitutes “reasonable suspicion.” And get your policy manual updated!

Ohio’s Gun Law: Effective March 21, 2017

Last December, Governor John Kasich signed Ohio Senate Bill 199, also referred to as Ohio's "campus carry" bill, into law. Do you have one of those “No firearms on Company premises” stickers on your front door? You can’t say that anymore.

Persons with concealed carry licenses are permitted to bring their guns onto your property as long as the firearm is kept locked inside an enclosed compartment or container within their privately-owned vehicle and the vehicle is in a location it is otherwise permitted to be, such as a designated employee parking lot.  You can, however, prohibit guns and other weapons from being INSIDE your Company buildings. Your next best move? Revise that sticker on your front door to say, “No firearms are permitted within Company buildings”

And don’t forget to update your employee handbook policy to reflect this change!

Federal Immigration Form: Effective September 18, 2017

Employers must use the new I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form with revision date 07/17/17N, to verify the identity and work eligibility of every new employee hired, or for the reverification of expiring employment authorization of current employees (if applicable). Prior versions of the form are no longer valid.  Employers who fail to use the newest form may be subject to all applicable fines and penalties.

Use this link to download this new form:

https://www.uscis.gov/system/files_force/files/form/i-9-paper-version.pdf

Ohio Minimum Wage: Effective January 1, 2018

Minimum Wage is rising from $8.15/hour to $8.30/hour, and tipped employees will see an increase from $4.08/hour to $4.15/hour. Make sure you have the most current Labor Law poster for Ohio that reflects the new minimum wage rules!  Don’t want to drop another $40+ on a new poster for this one change?  Follow the link below to download and print this FREE “patch” that you can post over top your old minimum wage poster!

http://www.com.ohio.gov/documents/dico_2018MinimumWageposter.pdf