Prescription drug misuse impacts 71% of U.S. workplaces

More than 70% of U.S. employers are feeling the direct impact of prescription drug misuse in their workplaces, according to a survey released by the National Safety Council. It’s a significant sign that employers should be focusing on how legal substances, as well as illegal, can affect their organization. In fact, nearly half of Americans are personally…

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Report: How the aging population will affect the workplace

The year 2030 marks an important demographic turning point in U.S. history according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 National Population Projections. By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than age 65. This will expand the size of the older population so that 1 in every 5 residents will be retirement age. “The aging of…

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Washington extends 'bans the box' laws to both private and public employers

On March 13, 2018, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed into law the Fair Chance Act (HB 1298), extending ‘ban the box‘ jobseeker protections to cover the state’s public and private employers. The legislation prohibits employers from asking about arrests or convictions before applicants are determined otherwise qualified for a position. Washington becomes the 11th state…

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February 2018 employment: US adds 313,000 jobs

According to ‘The Employment Situation‘ report released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in the United States remained unchanged at 4.1%, while the economy added 313,000 jobs, in February. Employment rose in construction, retail trade, professional and business services, manufacturing, financial activities, and mining. Among the major worker…

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Maine employers can no longer test for marijuana

Maine is now the country’s first state to institutionally protect employees from unfair hiring and firing practices due to cannabis use. Employers will no longer be able to test applicants for cannabis prior to hiring, or fire an employee for using cannabis outside of the workplace. Lexology notes that the Maine Department of Labor has removed cannabis…

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