In The News...

HIPAA doesn't block your vaccine inquiries

Maybe you've encountered employees who won't tell you their COVID vaccination status because they say that such requests are infringing on their privacy rights. They're wrong! Asking employees about their vaccination status doesn't legally infringe on their privacy (medical or otherwise), nor does it violate any HIPAA privacy rules.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued guidance on this issue. Learn more about HIPAA and vaccine privacy laws at www.theHRSpecialist.com/VaxPrivacy.

Support grows for hiring staff with criminal record

Americans are becoming more supportive of working for an employer--or patronizing a business--that hires people who have a criminal record, according to a recent Society for Human Resource Management survey.

More than two-thirds (79%) of 1,100 people surveyed said they'd be comfortable working for an employer if a few of their co-workers had a nonviolent criminal record. That "comfortable" percentage drops to 56% for people working alongside people who have spent five or more years in prison. About 700,000 Americans are released from prisons each year.

Employee complaints will trigger COVID fines

Don't expect a federal or state agency to show up sniffing around for COVID safety or vax-mandate violations. In reality, most OSHA investigations are prompted by employee complaints to the agency. Recent example: An insurance company in Denver faces more than $23,000 in OSHA fines for failing to safely distance employees and allowing COVID-symptomatic workers to remain on...

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