Employers in More States See Changing Marijuana Laws
The November 3 election saw voters in five states weighing in on new marijuana measures, and the results mean employers will need to be ready for more recreational use.
Tag: Montana
Montana House Passes Bills That May Cause Criminal Penalties, Disastrous Results for Employers
By Jeanne M. Bender Two bills that are progressing through the Montana Legislature would impose significant restrictions on employers’ staffing response to emergencies and their ability to manage unemployment compensation eligibility for recent hires. Montana law currently limits the workday in certain occupations and for certain employers (e.g., mining, smelting, school districts, and state and […]
Six States Increase Indexed Minimum Wages for 2011
As the new year approaches, a number of states will see index-driven increases to their minimum wage rates. Specifically, Arizona, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington will each add around 10 cents per hour to their existing wage rates, based on an increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of a little more than one […]
Montana: Few Surprises in Big Sky Elections
by Jeanne M. Bender, Holland & Hart LLP Lone congressman Republican Denny Rehberg was reelected by a large margin after a somewhat nasty campaign. The big changes came with the legislative races, in which Republicans did very well and a number of incumbent Democratic legislators lost their seats. Republicans here are pretty conservative, so we […]
Federal Inactivity Continues to Spark State Immigration Action
A federal judge blocked parts of Arizona’s new immigration law on Wednesday, the day before the rest of the measure went into effect. But legal challenges are already flying and many are waiting to see what happens next. Last year, a record number of immigration-related laws were considered and passed in the 50 states. Over […]
Smoking Pot and Feeding Grizzly Bears — Any Volunteers?
Normally in HR Hero Line, we focus on employment laws and issues that affect most employers. But when a state-specific workers’ comp case comes along that involves (1) a worker smoking pot before (2) his job feeding grizzly bears for (3) a company that says its workers were volunteers, (not employees), we think it’s worth […]
Medical Marijuana Compassionate Use Laws Among 2010 Legislative Actions
by Lorraine Yeomans The 2010 state legislative sessions have kicked off across the nation, and one of the first pieces of legislation to be signed into law this year was a bill legalizing the use of medical marijuana. On January 18, as one of his last acts before leaving office, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine […]
Bullies in the Workplace, Not Just the Playground
Sixteen states have proposed legislation introduced under the title “The Healthy Workplace Bill.” In 2009, 12 states’ legislatures considered bullying bills but none passed them. The legislation is intended to stop workplace bullying but hasn’t yet been made law in any state. Keep up with the latest changes in state employment laws with the monthly […]
What Employers Should and Shouldn’t Keep in Employees’ Personnel Files
Labor and employment law attorneys get a lot of questions from employers about personnel files. The most frequently asked question is, “What should I include, and who gets to see them?” Read on as we attempt to sort out some of those questions. HR Guide to Employment Law: A practical compliance reference manual covering 14 […]