Labor relations is a critical area of corporate law. While there are laws designed to maintain healthy relationships between employers and employees, there are still instances when powerful corporations bypass labor laws and absolve themselves of liability, especially when an injury occurs on-site.
As companies welcome workers back to the office, it has become more important than ever to recognize the role that a labor and employment attorney can play in making sure that labor laws are still enforced. In addition, as the pandemic continues to affect modern workplace dynamics, employment attorneys will need to learn and unlearn many things to stay relevant. What exactly do you need to do as employees return on-site?
Greater Inclusivity
At the start of the pandemic, employers were required to follow the right procedures in laying off employees in a bid to lessen the impact of the pandemic. The year 2020 was a field day for labor attorneys as the country experienced mass layoffs and resignations that more or less amounted to violations of the Work Adjustment Retraining Notification Act. Under this law, employers with more than a hundred employees are required to issue a 60-day notice before terminating an employment contract.
Now that the economy is on the road to recovery, legislators are learning from the experience as they look toward crafting laws meant to combat unethical employment practices in the event of another economic disruption. There is also a greater emphasis on making laws that address workplace discrimination. Last year, the House passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act which will make it illegal for employers to deny pregnant employees of reasonable accommodations or adjustments.
The bill has yet to pass the Senate, but lawyers should still keep their heads up as this will strengthen protections for pregnant workers. As labor law continues to evolve, employment attorneys will need to keep up by reviewing the basics and learning how new legislation can affect their practice.
Emphasizing OSHA Regulations
Companies have welcomed the need to bring workers back onsite. While the pandemic has subsided in most parts of the country, employers are still required to follow regulations in keeping the workplace safe and healthy. Employment lawyers will need to be aware of recent guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that aims to protect workers from the virus and more so from other workplace hazards.
Law experts like Las Vegas-based Gina Corena & Associates are looking into the possibility of holding an employer liable if a worker gets infected onsite. Under OSHA rules, companies are required to have a communicable illness policy that includes specific actions that lessen employees’ exposure to the virus. The absence of such a policy will open the doors for a personal injury lawsuit if an employee gets hospitalized or dies from the virus. Labor lawyers will need to spot possible violations and do their part in securing safer offices and establishments.
Even as health restrictions are being relaxed, the future of employer-employee relationships remains uncertain. What remains clear is the fact that employment attorneys will continue to play a key role in helping business establishments recover without trampling on the rights of workers.
