Category
Employee Policies
Are “No Gossip” Policies Legal? What Florida Employers Need to Know
It’s a common workplace frustration: rumors flying, half-truths spreading, and morale taking a hit as conversations drift from productive to personal. For many Florida employers, the instinctive response is simple—add a “no gossip” policy to the employee handbook and call it a day. But here’s the catch: while that approach might seem prac...
Tampa Area Restaurant Settles EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit; Agrees to 3 Year Consent Decree
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced a settlement with Rivers Edge Enterprises, LLC—operator of River’s Edge Bar and Grill in Gibsonton, Florida—resolving a federal lawsuit involving allegations of pervasive sexual harassment and retaliation in the workplace. The company has agreed to pay $65,000 and impl...
HR and Payroll Updates for January 2026
It’s almost 2026, so now is the time to review and update your company’s HR and payroll practices and documents for the new year. With 2025 ending, here is our 10 point list of Human Resources and payroll actions and updates for January 2026. Happy New Year! Update your new hire packet with 2026 documents.......
Can an Employer Require a “Full Release” to Return from Medical Leave?
When an employee takes a medical leave of absence—whether for surgery, illness, or another health condition—employers often ask for a doctor’s note before the employee returns. But what about requiring a “full release” or “100% healed” certification? Is that legal? The short answer: not usually. A national Property management company ...
Can an Employee Be Fired for Posting Bible Verses on Personal Social Media?
According to a recent lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the answer is “No”. In the July EEOC lawsuit, Crystal Ridge Ski Area, LLC, doing business as “The Rock Snowpark”, a winter sports park and summer events venue near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, violated federal law when it terminated a lift op...
Florida CHOICE Act Makes Non-Competes Longer and Enforcement Easier
The Florida legislature recently passed the “Contracts Honoring Opportunity, Investment, Confidentiality, and Economic Growth (CHOICE) Act.” For high earning, salaried employees, the CHOICE Act makes it much easier for their employers to enforce non-compete agreements in Florida and allows for longer non-compete time-periods. It is designed to ...
How to Respond if a Former Employee Violates a Non-Compete Agreement in Florida
In Florida, non-compete agreements are enforceable, if they are reasonable in scope, duration, and geographical area, and protect legitimate business interests such as trade secrets, client relationships, or confidential information. But what happens when a former employee violates that agreement? If a Florida employer suspects or confirms a violat...
Guidance on Unlawful DEI -Related Discrimination Released by EEOC and DOJ
In March 2025, two technical guidance documents were released by the EEOC and DOJ that emphasize that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives must comply with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, or other protected characteristics. The DOJ and EEOC jointly issued a docum...
Crafting Custom Employee Handbooks: Affordable Solutions for Small Business
Creating an employee handbook is a crucial step for any business, regardless of its size or industry. It sets the tone for company culture, outlines policies, and ensures that employees are well-informed about their roles and responsibilities. At Consultstu, we specialize in crafting customized and comprehensive employee handbooks that cater to the...
FTC Non-Compete Ban is Blocked, Will Not Go into Effect
Much to the relief of many employers, a Texas court entered an order blocking the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) non-compete ban on a nationwide basis. On August 20, the court blocked the non-compete ban from going into effect on September 4. The judge concluded that the FTC lacks the authority to promulgate the non-compete rule......
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