Workplace Catastrophes
An Employer's Guide to Workplace Violence, Terrorism, and Natural Disasters
All New 2nd Edition - Now fully updated for 2009!

Workplace violence, tornadoes, floods, a flu pandemic … has your HR department done everything it can to prepare for a disaster, and to respond?

If the swine flu or other pandemic infects your workplace, Human Resources will be expected to have a plan in place. Problem is, how can you plan before a catastrophic event?

Now there’s a way to plan for the worst by incorporating all of the legal and logistical challenges that fall under your umbrella of responsibility. And it’s found in the all-new manual just for HR management, Workplace Catastrophes: An Employer’s Guide to Workplace Violence, Terrorism and Natural Disasters - 2nd Edition.

Now updated with three new chapters:

• The Immigration Crisis: Workplaces in the Crosshairs of DHS
• Implications of ADA, FMLA, and USERRA for Incidents of Workplace Violence, Terrorism, and Catastrophic Events
• Corporate Responsibility, Governance, Liability, and the Need for Continuity Planning

BONUS OFFER: Order today and you'll also receive a Bonus CD-ROM with dozens of sample policies and pragmatic steps you can implement now to minimize liability in wake of a catastrophic event.

This manual contains the clear, must-have guidance you need to:
• Prepare a disaster recovery plan
• Spot the warning signs of impending workplace violence
• Keep your business running after different kinds of catastrophes
• Meet your organization's legal obligations in the face of disaster
• Assign responsibilities for disaster recovery
• Manage employee safety concerns under OSHA
• Limit company liability for the results of unforeseen events
• Meet workers' comp obligations in the event of workplace injuries
• How to respond if the ICE targets your organization
• And much more!

Table of Contents

Conditions Conducive to Workplace Violence and Terrorism
Perpetrators and Victims of Workplace Violence … Methods and Means of Workplace Violence
Workplace Violence Checklist … Warning Signs of Potential Employee Perpetrators … Dimensions and Definitions of Terrorism … The Domestic Terrorist Threat

The Changing Legal Landscape
OSHA and Workplace Violence …Is Workplace Violence a “Recognized Hazard”? … Terrorism, Workplace Safety, and OSHA … “Backlash” Violence, Harassment and Discrimination … Hazardous Mail/Anthrax … The Legal Status of “Bullyism” … Employee Refusals Perform Assignments Due to Safety or Health Hazards Under OSHA, Federal Whistleblower Statutes, and NLRA … “Protected Concerted Activity” … State Statutes Relating to Terrorism in the Workplace

Employment Law Issues Confronting Employers in Times of Natural Disasters
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN )… COBRA and HIPAA Deadlines ... Documentation of Prospective Employees’ Work Authorization and Identity …Unemployment Benefits … Title VII, FMLA and Fair Labor Standards Act … Final Paychecks for Departing Employees … Workers’ Compensation and Employer Discretionary Short-Term Disability Benefits … FMLA and Other Leave Issues in the Event of Avian Flu … Liability to Third Parties

Employer Obligations and Defenses Under Various Federal Statutes
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 … Discrimination Based on Religion … Types of Religious-Based Discrimination … Harassment … Proselytizing in the Workplace …Disparate Treatment … Failure to Accommodate … Discrimination Based on National Origin, Language, and Accent … The Employer’s Defenses to Harassment Allegations

The Immigration Crisis: Workplaces in the Cross-Hairs of DHS
The Three Major Immigration Laws … Enforcement Agencies … I-9 Form and Related Common Errors … E-Verify, SSNVS and ICE Image: What They Are and Should Employers Participate? … Social Security “No-Match” Letters … Safe Harbor Protection … Minimizing Liability … Interview Dos and Don’ts … Post-Offer Employment Period: 3-Day and 90-Day Requirements

Implications of ADA, FMLA and USERRA For Incidents of the Workplace Violence, Terrorism and Catastrophic Events
ADA Restrictions On, and Latitude For, Employer Actions When Confronted with Violence, Terror and Disasters … 2008 Amendments to the ADA … Permissible Pre and Post-Offer Inquires Under ADA … Current Employees … Employee Threats of Violence … Employer USERRA Obligations … Re-employment Rights and Requirements … Returning Injured or Disabled Employees … Restrictions on Termination

The Impact of Workers’ Compensation and Tort
Workers’ Compensation as an “Exclusive Remedy … Assaults and Violence “Arising Out Of” and “In the Course Of” Employment … Employer’s Intentional Acts … Injury Due to Workplace Harassment … Independent Claims of Surviving Relatives … Off-Hours Assaults … Breach of Duty to Provide Security … Other Entities Subject to Tort Liability for Employees’ Workplace Injuries … Labor Unions … Franchisor Liability …. Contract Security Companies … Commercial Landlords or Management Companies … Terrorism and Workers’ Comp … “Positional Risk” … Trauma and Delayed Reaction Injuries … Employer Liability for Workplace Violence and Injuries Due to Terrorist Acts … Employer Negligence … The “Reasonable Man’s” Expanding Views of Foreseeable Risks … Emotional and Psychiatric Injury Sustained in the Workplace

Workplace Security, Employee Privacy and Employer Liability
Federal and State Privacy Protections in the Private Sector … Federal Wiretap Law… Impact of the USA PATRIOT Act and the Homeland Security Act on Privacy Rights of Employees and Employers … New Employer Obligations and Rights … Electronic Monitoring of Employees … The Good Faith Defense … State Law Protections … Pre-Employment and Workplace Investigations … The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FRCA) and 3rd Parties … “Do-It-Yourself” Pre-Hire Background Checks … FACT Act … Invasion of Privacy Torts … Monitoring …Searches and Surveillance … Job References, Misrepresentations, Invasions of Privacy and Defamation Claims … Defamation, Emotional Distress and Wrongful Discharge … Cyberspace, Email and Union Organizational Activity … Privacy Rights of Public Sector Employees … Firearms at the Workplace

Employer Measures to Minimize Legal Exposure
Avoid Invasion of Privacy Claims … Policies, Practices, and Steps to Help Prevent Violence and Provide Security in the Workplace … “Zero Tolerance” Policies Management Teams and CMTs … Restraining Orders … Backlash Discrimination … Legal Exposure for Terrorist Acts … Emergency Preparedness Plans … Assessing Risks … Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (“CBR”) Threats … Implement Protocols to Minimize Risk … Suspicious Employees and Outsiders … Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) … Business Interruption Insurance

Corporate Responsibility, Governance, and Business Continuity Planning
Sarbanes-Oxley Act Implications … NFPA 1600 … Phases of BCP … Communications … Assigning Responsibilities … Alternate Work Locations … Electronic Document Retention … Preservation and Inventory of Equipment … Plan Implementation

Sample Policies:
Equal Employment Opportunity
Employment at Will
Employment Eligibility Documents
Background Checks
References
Open Communications
Respectful Workplace
Harassment or Discrimination
Personal Conduct
Violence in the Workplace
Personal Property
Identification Badges and Building Access
Employment Records
Safeguarding Personnel Records
Confidential and Proprietary Information
E-mail and Voicemail
Employment Records
Safeguarding Personnel Records
Confidential and Proprietary Information
E-mail and Voicemail
Use of Telephone and Cell Phones
Telephone Monitoring
Use of Computers and the Internet
Military/Reserve Leave
Telecommunting
Life-Threatening, Contagious and/or Debilitating Illness
Employee Assistance Program
Family and Medical Leave
Statutory Conflicts
Policy Changes