Fisher Phillips

Nearly Half of All Hospitality Worker Fatalities in 2023 Were Caused By Workplace Violence: 10 Steps You Can Take to Address Workplace Dangers

by Fisher Phillips in Legal, Risk Management, Safety & Security. Posted January 16, 2025

Recently released statistics revealed that over 250 workers in the hospitality industry were killed on the job in the most recent reporting year, demonstrating once again that employers need to take safety seriously. According to the December 19 government release, the leading cause of workplace fatalities among restaurant and lodging workers was violent acts, accounting ...

New Year, New Goals: Why You’ll Want to Add Workplace Investigation Training to Your 2025 Resolution List

by Fisher Phillips in Human Resources, Safety & Security. Posted January 9, 2025

Before the ink dries on your professional New Year’s resolutions, you may want to add “empower leaders with investigation training.” While most employers appreciate that complaints about potential workplace misconduct or other policy violations may require a prompt investigation, many don’t appreciate what can go wrong if one is poorly executed. The most straightforward way ...

H-2 Visas Get Final Overhaul Before Change in Power in D.C. – 3 Biggest Changes for Employers

by Fisher Phillips in Human Resources, Legal. Posted January 2, 2025

Federal immigration officials announced final rules to modernize the H-2A and H-2B temporary worker programs last week in an effort to enhance flexibility, strengthen worker protections, and improve program efficiency beginning January 17, 2025. These changes from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will impact a variety of industries, such as agriculture, farming, hospitality, landscaping, ...

Employer Cheat Sheet for Workplace Laws Taking Effect January 1

by Fisher Phillips in Human Resources, Legal. Posted December 3, 2024

As the year wraps up, we’re rounding up the new workplace laws that will take effect on January 1. With so many laws about to kick in, it can be hard to keep track of it all. Here’s a guide to some of the federal and state laws you’ll need to comply with on day ...

New Study Shows AI Resume Screeners Prefer White Male Candidates: Your 5-Step Blueprint to Prevent AI Discrimination in Hiring

by Fisher Phillips in Human Resources, Legal. Posted November 19, 2024

A new study reveals that popular AI-based resume screening tools often favor White and male candidates, showing that resumes tied to White-associated names were preferred 85% of the time. The University of Washington Information School study found that AI resume screening may inadvertently replicate – or even amplify – existing biases against certain demographics, and ...

NLRB’s New Standard Bans Employers from Warning That Unionization Hurts Managerial Relations: 5 Essential Steps for Compliance

by Fisher Phillips in Human Resources, Legal. Posted November 12, 2024

In a groundbreaking decision, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) just tightened restrictions on what employers can say to workers about the impact of unionization, overturning a 40-year-old standard and raising the bar for what is considered a lawful communication. In a case involving a national hospitality chain, the Board ruled on Friday that employers ...

Hospitality Industry Braces for NYC’s Safe Hotels Act: Top Things Employers Need to Know About What Could Become a Nationwide Trend

by Fisher Phillips in Hotel Development, Human Resources, Legal, Lodging. Posted October 29, 2024

New rules regulating hotels in NYC will likely take effect next May if Mayor Adams soon signs the Safe Hotels Act, which the City Council just passed by an overwhelming majority on October 23. NYC lawmakers are aiming to address safety concerns regarding human trafficking, crime, and cleanliness — but the act goes far beyond ...

So You Think This COVID Thing Has Ended? Not So Fast! 5 Tips for Employers to Prepare for Cold, Flu, and COVID Season

by Fisher Phillips in Coronavirus (COVID-19), Human Resources, Safety & Security. Posted September 6, 2024

For many businesses, the pandemic seems like a distant memory, but COVID-19 is not entirely behind us. Indeed, as the cold and flu season approaches, the CDC predicts that COVID-19 cases will increase across the country. Such surges have already started to impact workforces, making now a good time to review and update your COVID-19 ...

Female shopkeeper sitting stressed out at the store entrance frustrated

Restaurant Settles EEOC Lawsuit Based on Denying Cook’s No-Sundays Request: 6 Steps for Handling Religious Accommodation Requests

by Fisher Phillips in Food & Beverage, Human Resources, Legal. Posted August 20, 2024

A North Carolina restaurant franchisee has agreed to pay $40,000 and take other corrective measures to settle a religious discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the EEOC after being accused of denying a cook’s no-Sundays request. While restaurant employers have long been grappling with the challenges of a persistent labor shortage, and staffing becomes even ...

Game-Changing SCOTUS Ruling Serves Up a Menu of Possibilities for Hospitality Employers: Your 4-Step Action Plan Post-Chevron

by Fisher Phillips in Human Resources, Legal, Safety & Security. Posted August 8, 2024

The Supreme Court’s recent landmark ruling that gives employers a powerful tool to fight back against regulatory overreach will have a broad impact on just about every area of workplace law – and every industry. We’re looking at the way specific areas of workplace law will be impacted now that federal agency rules and positions ...