As retailers change over their spring fashions to summer styles, the sector’s legal departments will have more on their plates than merchandising. According to attorneys at Epstein Becker & Green, it will be a busy summer conforming to some newly implemented laws and recommended procedures.
Here are some top tips and issues retailers should watch for:
- Sick Leave Laws: Just as on-trend as culottes and kimono-style trench coats this season is sick leave—and legislators are getting hip to the new style. “The paid sick leave trend is gaining traction,” says Nancy Gunzenhauser. “While Congress has not yet taken any action, three local jurisdictions enacted paid sick leave laws affecting private employers in 2015 so far,” she notes. The states granting paid leave are California, Connecticut and Massachusetts, as well as nearly 20 cities.
- Employee Handbooks: Just ask Macy’s, the National Labor Relations Board is cracking down on employer policies and workplace rules. Areas of concern include confidentiality, employee conduct toward the company, supervisors and fellow employees, interaction with third parties, company logos, copyrights and trademarks, and conflict of interest rules, according to Steven Swirsky.
- Security Considerations: Experiencing a data breach is unfortunately more likely than wedge boots coming back into style. “In the past year, there has been an explosion in the number of cyberattacks targeting retail employee and consumer data,” say Adam Solander and Brandon Ge. They suggest retailers brush up on their data encryption, employee training on security prevention and vendor management, among other areas of concern.
