Lawyer Monthly Magazine - September 2019 Edition

What Businesses Should Look Out for Regarding Employment Law in 2019 Our special cover feature this month features Ramin Younessi who has been heading his own practice for 25 years. We speak to him this month about employment law and what businesses should be looking out for. From sexual harassment to wage theft, Ramin reveals ways in which businesses can practice as lawfully as possible, for the betterment of their company and their employees. ACCIDENTS AT WORK What procedures should business people have in place, in order to protect their employees? All business people should implement and maintain health and safety protocols in the workplace as required by OSHA Regulations. Employees need to be properly trained on how to perform their job duties in a safe manner that minimizes risk of injury. Additionally, employees should be trained on how to professionally interact with other employees and customers. Essentially, health and safety protocols for physical and emotional wellbeing of employees should be implemented and maintained. What are common accidents you see in your jurisdiction thatclientsoftenseeklegalhelp on? Why are these most common and can you share what can be done to reduce such cases? The most common accidents include slip and fall injuries and job duties that require excessive force, such as lifting heavy items. These types of accidents are the most common because employers often fail to implement and maintain health and safety protocols. You can ensure the work place environment is free from hazards by performing regular inspections throughout the day and ensuring employees are properly trained on how to perform their job duties in a safe manner; this can reduce these types of work-related accidents. How easy is it for victims of work-related accidents to claim compensation? Nowadays with the internet it is very easy for victims of work-related accidents to find attorneys to help them officially file a claim for compensation. Alternatively, victims can also easily access instructions and forms through the State of California Department of Industrial Relations - Division of Workers’ Compensation website, in order to file a claim for compensation themselves. What checklist should companies make to ensure they avoid legal sanction regarding accidents at work? A sample checklist follows: i. Implement and maintain health and safety protocols ii. Ensure all employees are properly trained on how to perform their job duties safely Cover Feature By Ramin Younessi, Law Offices of Ramin R. Younessi 11 SEP 2019 | WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM