- Office Party
- Posts
- Employees have to pay for smoking?!
Employees have to pay for smoking?!
PLUS: Nearly 50% of all employees are subject to NDAs
In partnership with
Today’s edition is brought to you by The Work Wellbeing Playbook. If you’re ready to feel more grounded, inspired, and supported at work, grab the Work Wellbeing Playbook today —completely free! 🌱
Read time: 1.5 minutes
What’s up, Office Partiers?! Happy Tuesday. Here are the top workforce news stories so far this week ⬇️
If you're frustrated by one-sided reporting, our 5-minute newsletter is the missing piece. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you comprehensive, unbiased news—free from political agendas. Stay informed with factual coverage on the topics that matter.
PARTY PLAN 🎉
🤐 45% of employees subject to NDAs
🚬 Workers have to pay for smoking?!
🔥 Resources for employees affected by LA fires
But first, MEMES!
MEME OF THE DAY
Recruiter deciding if you have the optimized amount of keywords in your resume before he rejects you
— The Random Recruiter (@randomrecruiter)
4:59 PM • Jan 27, 2025
Work
NDAs in the workplace
About 45% of workers report being subject to employer nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), which may silence employees from reporting instances of discrimination, according to research from advocacy group Lift Our Voices and Pennsylvania State University.
Across two separate studies studies, Penn State researchers surveyed nearly 2,000 participants, including active job seekers and employment law attorneys, about NDAs and forced arbitration clauses in the workplace.
Beyond NDAs, workers reported being subject to class action waivers (43%), mandatory arbitration clauses (39%), noncompete agreements (22%) and non-solicitation clauses (19%). Employees reported being most concerned about noncompete and mandatory arbitration clauses.
“These studies make clear that we desperately need additional safeguards for employees. Policymakers need to start taking real steps to enhance worker protections, including reconsidering the scope of forced arbitration clauses and NDAs in the workplace.”
Under forced arbitration in a private forum, employees had much lower win rates and higher costs. On the other hand, employee win rates were 36% higher in cases litigated in court. Employees also received significantly higher payouts through litigation, according to the report.
Weird Work Policies
Whole Foods Employees Pay A Surcharge For Smoking
Whole Foods Market Inc. requires workers who use tobacco products to pay a surcharge each paycheck, amounting to $780 annually, without meeting the requirements for an alternative option, according to a lawsuit filed Jan. 17.
Three current and former employees alleged in the proposed class-action lawsuit that the food retailer requires those on the health plan who use tobacco to pay the surcharge but doesn’t give them a reasonable alternative standard to recoup the fee retroactively, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
Employees can participate in a tobacco cessation program, but the surcharge will only be removed prospectively, the lawsuit alleged. A Whole Foods spokesperson said the company doesn’t comment on pending legislation.
“It is both unfair and unlawful for companies like Whole Foods to impose discriminatory and punitive health insurance surcharges on employees who use nicotine products.”
Is this a fair policy? |
Resources
Resources For Workers Affected By Fires In LA
The fires in LA have devastated hundreds of thousands on workers in the LA area. Here’s a quick list of resources if you, or someone you know has been affected. There are also links to places you can go to help out!
GET IN FRONT OF 10,000+ HR LEADERS, FOUNDERS, AND RECRUITERS
Advertise with The Office Party and promote your company to decision-makers at top companies. Get in touch.
LET’S HEAR IT…
What do you think of today's party? |