Laws & Regulations

Dentists required to comply with new information blocking rule granting patients more access to health records

All health care providers, including dentists, will soon be required to comply with a new federal regulation that aims to enhance a patient’s right to access their health information. Under the new rule, patients will have greater and, at times, immediate access to health information.

September 29, 2021 |Employment Practices, Laws & Regulations, News Articles, Office Policies & Manuals, Privacy/HIPAA, Regulatory Compliance

California ‘right to recall’ law requires certain employers to rehire laid-off employees

Gov. Gavin Newsom on April 16 signed a bill that requires employers in certain industries statewide to rehire employees who were laid off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dental practice owners who hire and employ an individual janitorial staff member to clean their dental office are considered covered employers and must comply with the new obligations. 

April 28, 2021 |Employment Practices, Hiring, Firing & Performance, Laws & Regulations, News Articles

Employers required to follow stricter meal period practices under California Supreme Court ruling

A recent California Supreme Court ruling that requires stricter meal practices in the workplace underscores the responsibility of dental practice owners to enforce break policies that are compliant with California laws.

March 10, 2021 |Employment Practices, Laws & Regulations, News Articles, Office Policies & Manuals

‘ABC’ test applies retroactively when determining worker classification in California, court decides; dentists still exempt under ruling

The California Supreme Court on Jan. 14 upheld its 2018 decision that employers’ use of the ABC test to classify their workers applies retroactively for the purposes of California wage orders.

February 4, 2021 |Employment Practices, Laws & Regulations, News Articles

New law expands suspected child abuse and neglect reporting requirements; dental practice employees could be mandated reporters

A new law that expands the list of individuals who are required to report suspected child abuse and neglect could apply to certain dental practice employees. 

February 3, 2021 |Employment Practices, Laws & Regulations, News Articles, Practice Management

What practice owners need to know about the CFRA expansion that takes effect Jan. 1, 2021

Dental practice owners should be prepared for major changes to the California Family Rights Act. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2021, and will impact very small businesses who will soon be required to provide 12 workweeks of job-protected unpaid family leave benefits to eligible employees annually. 

December 22, 2020 |Employment Practices, Laws & Regulations, News Articles, Practice Management

FDA says manufacturer failed to comply with medical device reporting related to respirator decontamination

The manufacturer of a decontamination system used to decontaminate certain N95 respirators for health care personnel received a warning notice last week from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for “failure to comply with regulatory requirements for medical device reporting.”

October 22, 2020 |COVID-19/Respiratory Illness, Employment Practices, Laws & Regulations, News Articles

California’s protected unpaid family leave extended to employees of smallest businesses

Very small businesses, including dental practices with just five or more employees, will soon be subject to the California Family Rights Act’s requirement to provide protected unpaid family leave to their employees.

September 22, 2020 |Employment Practices, Laws & Regulations, Legislation, News Articles

Accommodating at-risk workers during COVID-19: EEOC issues new guidance

Understand workplace protections and rules that can help employers navigate the impact of COVID-19 in the workplace and accommodate employees at high risk.

May 21, 2020 |COVID-19/Respiratory Illness, Laws & Regulations, News Articles

California employers are cleared to use mandatory arbitration agreements — for now

Update: Employers in California may continue to use mandatory arbitration agreements as a condition of employment following a decision issued Feb. 15, 2023, by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 

February 25, 2020 |Employment Practices, Laws & Regulations, News Articles

Classifying workers as independent contractors under law

Employers in California can now visit a single website to help them understand their requirements under a new law that further restricts their ability to classify their workers as independent contractors. Launched late last year by the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency, the website provides employer-specific resources and FAQ summarizing AB 5 and the ABC test and more.

February 4, 2020 |Early Career Dentists, Employment Practices, Hiring, Firing & Performance, Laws & Regulations, News Articles

HR audits help practices comply with laws, but can also offer peace of mind

Start your new year on the right foot by auditing your human resources systems and records. To diminish the possibility of legal issues and to ensure that your practice seeks to comply with labor and employment laws, it is important to perform an HR audit. An audit can include timekeeping and wage statements and all of the following.

January 9, 2020 |Employment Practices, Laws & Regulations, News Articles, Office Policies & Manuals
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