With the seeming ubiquity of Facebook sharing and the proliferation of high-quality mobile phone cameras, it’s easier than ever for parents to flood the Internet with pictures of their babies. But an increasing number of parents are opting for a Facebook blackout when it comes to photos of their kids, reports The Associated Press. Why are more and more parents choosing not to chronicle their young children’s lives on Facebook?...
The prom dress. Not even choosing a college induces the same amount of angst, apprehension, and possible elation for the high school female. The mere worry of duplicate dresses has spawned online databases and dibs industries. At least one school had added another layer of stress on the dress decision. Eisenhower Senior High School in Houston, Texas initially posted a notice requiring all female prom attendees to submit photos of themselves in their dress for prior approval....
We all know that it’s a free market, for the most part, and small business owners are willing to compete for customers and clients. Entrepreneurs often have faith that their product or service will be preferred, or at least they’re willing to win some and lose some, without too much complaint, as long as they believe the playing field is level. What about when circumstances that are out of your control, an “act of god” for example, cause you to lose business?...
The House the Mouse built is currently up to its ears in controversy. Last week it was reported the Disney Corporation would not allow one of its workers to wear her hijab (head scarf) while working with the public at its StoryTellers Cafe. Small world indeed. According to the Associated Press, Disney employee Imane Boudlal, 26, filed a complaint regarding the alleged religious discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission....
Business owners and casual shoppers may recognize the presence of “You Break It, You Buy It” signs in various retail businesses. Small businesses have a good deal of leeway to define the legal terms of how customers may interact with them and their merchandise, but this isn’t to say that companies can act like mini-warlords on their own property. So what exactly is the legal effect of a “You Break It, You Buy It” warning, and how can your business employ such a policy?...
People tattoo everything, even their eyelids. But should the law allow them to tattoo their dogs? Before you run to the tattoo parlor to give your bowser a “Pug Lyfe” tattoo, consider whether tattooing dogs is animal cruelty. Dog Tattoos for Identification? The issue of whether dog tattoos are legal was raised in the case of Ernesto Rodriguez, a veteran and tattoo artist in North Carolina. Rodriguez tattooed his two American Bully breed dogs with belly tattoos, claiming that they have the tattoos for identification “just in case” they are lost, reports CNN....
Alexandra Curtis, an attendant on the train involved in last week’s deadly Nevada Amtrak crash, has launched what it sure to become a barrage of lawsuits against truck driver Lawrence Valli and his employer, John Davis Trucking Co. The lawsuit, which seeks $10,000 in general damages and undetermined medical costs, alleges that Valli negligently failed to heed the warnings at the train crossing. Given his driving record, this allegation may not be so far off the mark....
For parents and school kids, the thought of being cyberbullied can be frightening, and knowing what to do when it happens can be confusing and difficult. One Texas parent, after his son was subjected to cruel cyberbullying that turned into a big problem at school, has turned to the newly enacted David’s Law, and filed a lawsuit against the cyberbullies and their parents. David’s Law was prompted by the suicide of a teen attributed to severe cyberbullying....
When news breaks about someone being punished or fired from their job for things they say – like the NFL penalizing teams if their players do not show respect for the national anthem – the first question from many people is, “What about the First Amendment?” And while we generally have the freedom of speech, there are limits on our First Amendment protections. One of those limits is the employment context....
It’s official: greenhouses gases not only contribute to global warming but also cause air pollution that presents a danger to human health, the EPA announced today. The move could open the door for greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide to be considered “pollutants”, and for their emission to be regulated under the federal Clean Air Act. Today’s Findings. The Proposed Endangerment Finding released by the EPA today declares that “In both magnitude and probability, climate change is an enormous problem....
Perhaps a major driver for this option is cost, with funeral arrangements averaging $6000, families may find themselves worrying about being able to finance a dignified final farewell. Beyond the potential to save thousands, home burial can be made into a meaningful and personal way to honor and remember the departed. To guide families and hold their hands through the process, loved ones may decide to engage a death midwife. There are currently, in fact, over 45 organizations or professionals across the country to assist in the home burial process–where only two existed in 2002....
A secret shopper is a person employed by a manufacturer or retailer to pose as a customer and evaluate the quality of service. The shopper offers you a view of your business from the consumer’s perspective. Given their secret nature, workers will not treat them differently from other customers. That can be a good or a bad thing, depending. Dealing With Hard Truths You may not love everything you hear from the secret shopper....
Things aren’t quite adding up for David Friehling, the former accountant for Ponzi-scheme operator Bernard Madoff. He is expected to plead guilty to fraud and other charges, according to a letter today from prosecutors to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. According to the latest update by Reuters, Friehling is expected to plead guilty to securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, making false statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and breaking tax laws, the office of the U....
For people with type 2 diabetes, Onglyza is a hypoglycemic drug that can help maintain healthy insulin levels. But as with all potentially life-saving medications, there are risks associated with Onglyza use which in themselves can be life threatening. In 2014, the FDA started looking into the link between Onglyza and heart failure, and earlier this year warned that type 2 diabetes medicines like Onglyza “may increase the risk of heart failure, particularly in patients who already have heart or kidney disease....
Difficulty breathing, nosebleeds, and eye irritation. These are the symptoms being reported by hairdressers across the country after giving clients a Brazilian Blowout. The popular hair treatment has had incredible success in the past couple years, promising straight and manegeable hair for up to twelve weeks. According to OSHA, Brazilian Blowout contains formaldehye – a chemical compound that can cause all of the symptoms described above, and more. Occupational exposure to formaldehyde is most common in construction, but the use of the compound is certainly not limited to that industry....
What happens if you can’t get your W-2 forms out to your employees on time? An employer who pays an employee more than $600 per year (in cash and noncash payments, such as benefits) has an obligation to file a W-2 with the Social Security Administration and must also provide W-2s to employees. Being late on either of these two things can cost an employer by way of penalties from the IRS....
A growing number of corporations are asking their law firms to fill out lengthy questionnaires to show proof of cybersecurity measures. Should your small business follow suit? Major corporate clients are demanding that their law firms ramp up their security and then prove that they did so, The New York Times reports. This is a cybersecurity tactic small business owners might want to adopt – particularly with vendors. Lest we forget, the massive Target data breach resulted from a compromised vendor....
It’s probably a question that was unthinkable just a few short years ago. But with more states legalizing recreational and medical marijuana (and a whole lot more with bud bills on the ballot), it may be time for small businesses to rethink their office pot policies. Denver-based software company Flowhub and social media networks High There! and MassRoots have weed-friendly offices, allowing cannabis consumption on the clock. So is this trend just for weed industry startups in Denver?...
There’s a lot of talk about the tax gap – how can someone who earns $42.6 million only pay a 14% tax rate? And what about those big businesses taking advantage of tax loopholes? But the reality is small companies and the self-employed are the biggest tax dodgers in the nation – and they’re not even doing it legally. The IRS tracks the taxes owed but not paid – the official tax gap....
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1-3 percent of surgeries result in an infection. Here are some frequently asked questions about surgical site infections and the law. 1. What is a surgical site infection? A surgical site infection is just what it sounds like. It is an infection that occurs in the place on the body where surgery took place. The skin normally protects from infection but when it is cut, the area is exposed to foreign materials that can cause infection....
