Some Tips for ADA Compliance
When the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990, no one anticipated it would apply to websites and mobile applications. Today, it is becoming a growing liability concern for all hospitality businesses. Here’s the state of the law—and some tips for compliance.
You are likely familiar with Title III of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). At every turn of your property, there are architectural features designed to remove barriers for ...
A Moral Crisis and a Growing Liability Threat
A call to action for hotel operators to adopt human trafficking compliance and training.
In the case of Benson v. Portland, Oregon Hilton Doubletree, the family of a sex trafficking victim who was murdered by a customer sued the hotel in which the act occurred. In thei...
Set Zero-tolerance Policies to Avoid Harassment Claims
It’s important for executives at hotel companies to let employees know that sexual harassment will not be tolerated and that claims should be reported to management.
You can’t turn on your television or read the latest newsfeed without hearing allegations of sexual harassment in every industry sector. If you ask Anthony Bourdain, chef and host ...
How Shifting Laws on Tip-pooling Could Affect Hotels
U.S. Department of Labor regulations currently prohibit employers from setting up tip-pooling arrangements for employees who are not customarily tipped, such as back-of-the-house staff. But that could change.
If you have a restaurant at your hotel property, you are likely quite aware of the ongoing controversies regarding “tip pooling,” a common practice in many eating and drinking esta...
After Vegas: See Something? Then Say or do Something
It seems so simple, but as the tragedy in Las Vegas reminds us, this type of vigilance is a key component of public safety.
It is not hard to imagine that the tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas in early October created particular anguish within the hotel industry.
Navigating the Spreading ‘ban the Box’ Laws
Now might be the time to review your hiring practices to ensure they conform to “ban the box” laws and you have diligent screening of prospective employees for the protection of guests and staff.
A number of states and an even-larger number of cities and municipalities have passed so-called “ban the box” laws, which prevent employers from asking applicants and employees if ...
The Fate of the Overtime Expansion
What might employers expect next in the wake of an injunction, a Republican-controlled Congress and a new president?
Last November, several graduating hospitality administration students cheerfully announced to me they had been offered entry-level hotel management positions. Their starting salari...
Shared Responsibility for Misclassified Workers
Last summer, the Department of Labor found several hotels liable for the misclassification of workers by the staffing agency with which they contracted. This could be a good time to review proper worker classification and consider how to avoid replicating this cautionary tale in temporary staffing practices.
Worker misclassification—improperly labeling workers as independent contractors, rather than employees—continues to be source of liability for businesses, including those in the ho...
Avoiding Liability for Actions of Third-party Employees
A partnership between a hotel and its business tenant, such as a restaurant, spa or fitness center, can be a good thing, but how liable is the hotel when third-party employees get into trouble?
The management of a luxury downtown hotel seeks to offer its guests on-site fitness and spa facilities, so it enters into an agreement to lease space to a business that provides th...
Watching the Clock: Plan Ahead for Overtime Changes
Experts say now is the time for businesses to prepare for proposed changes to the overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
President Obama has pronounced repeatedly it is time to “give America a raise.” Well, a raise seems imminent for many so-called “exempt” employees, in light of proposed changes to ...