Labor and Employment Law Postings New York State and Pennsylvania

In the many audits I have conducted over the years; labor and employment law postings continue to be an area that we see as potential red flags and opportunities for organizations.  Many that I see are, outdated, expired, not posted in the correct area’s and/or missing information.  Below is a breakdown of posting requirements in New York State and the State of Pennsylvania.

State of Pennsylvania:

Federal Posting Requirements

These are easy areas for organizations to correct and ensure updated compliance.  Worker’s comp, disability and paid family leave postings are a common area that I see as expired or completely missing, work with your providers and update as needed.  I have recently audited combined disability and PFL postings.  The unemployment posting in New York State is another easy miss for organizations.  Ensure the posters are visible in an area that employees gather and have access to the legal information, not in a closet or bathroom.  Keep in mind remote workers and applicants, yes there are specific laws on addressing both remote workers and posting requirements for job applicants.  And yes, there are different requirements across the country in each state.  You can purchase labor and employment law posters that contain most of the information above or you can download each form (weigh the value of your time versus spending time downloading each form from multiple websites).  If you are unclear on what to post, specific organizational requirements, where to post, seek guidance.  I can help any employer address posting questions or concerns, as it is part of the general audit process.  This is low hanging fruit cleanup, it should be reviewed annually, as laws change.  Federal laws will change throughout the year that require new posters, not all changes occur on December 31^st or the beginning for a new year.

Pancake Chain IHOP to Pay $700,000 to Settle Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit

“LAS VEGAS – Several franchisees of the popular IHOP restaurant chain in Nevada and New York will pay $700,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. The U.S. District Court of Nevada has approved a consent decree filed by the EEOC.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, IHOP owners, supervisors, managers and co-workers subjected female employees to ongoing egregious sexual harassment in both Nevada and New York locations. The harassment included groping; sending pictures of male genitalia; propositions for sex; viewing of porno­graphy; vulgar comments; and unwanted touching and kissing. The company failed to take corrective action when the victims complained, instead taking retaliatory action against them, including reducing their work hours and firing them.”[i]

Wynn Resorts fined record $20M for failing to investigate sexual misconduct

“Wynn Resorts has been fined a record $20 million for failing to properly investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against its then-CEO Steve Wynn, who grew up in Central New York.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Wynn Resorts Ltd. executives “collectively sank into their seats” as the Nevada Gaming Commission announced its final punishment for the casino. It’s the highest fine ever handed down by Nevada gaming regulators.”[ii]

Christini’s Ristorante Italiano to Pay $80,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment / Retaliation Lawsuit

“Christini’s Ristorante Italiano to pay $80k to settle EEOC lawsuit. The owner created a work environment that encouraged sexually charged comments and allowed for the repeated propositioning of a female bartender, the suit charged.”[iii]

– Matthew Burr, HR Consultant

[i] https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/2-20-19.cfm

[ii] https://www.syracuse.com/us-news/2019/02/wynn-resorts-fined-record-20m-for-failing-to-investigate-ceo-from-cny.html

[iii] EEOC Twitter 2/28/2019