Guide to Marketing Labor Laws

Media Coalition is the latest opponent of the 2005 California video game law that makes it illegal for dealers to sell violent and sexually-explicit video games. This was the report from Arstechnica.com last week citing Media Coalition’s filing of an amicus brief before the court.

This news is another manifestation of how media organization uses its influence to avert an industrial crisis targeting certain enterprises. What is wrong with prohibiting the sale of violent and sexually-explicit video games to minors? Isn’t it just right to keep our kids from any stuff that arouses violence and irresponsible sex? I fully support the implementation of the law despite its possible negative effects to business.

For the link to the article, click here.

Some drug companies are getting criticisms these days because of an alleged unfair marketing strategy. This is in the form of buying prescription practices from physicians and using them as in formulating new marketing plans.

Azstarnet.com, the online service of Arizona Daily Star, reports that a bill that will make it illegal for drug companies to buy detailed prescription practices from doctors for marketing purposes is being considered by Washington’s state legislators.

Other states such as Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine have also passed laws that aim to restrict or ban similar practice. However, in New Hampshire and Maine, the laws were challenged by pharmaceutical companies justifying that physicians can always decline the offer and some federal judges listened to them.

For more juicy details, here’s the link to the article.

Mostly applied to car dealerships, they exist in other business though in different forms and descriptions. You as a sales or marketing personnel should be aware of such laws that do get revised from time to time. As with any other laws, ignorance is no excuse and information is vital to protect you and your company.
Products that are designed in developed countries normally have manufacturing facilities outside the country where labor costs are lower. This brings about issues regarding reliability and safety for though the initial designs were of standard, the manufacturer may have cut corners as with the recent incidents with Mattel and other manufacturers who suffered huge recalls due to sub-standard materials and practices. Top management should be made aware of such issues should you find out and customer safety is of utmost importance so do calls and inform your customers of such events to maintain your image and not fall victim to such practices.

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There are a lot of things to consider when you think of opening up a business, whether it be a micro, small or a huge corporation. Business laws hugely affect your prospective business. Failure to pay attention to these laws can get you into legal and financial troubles. Although, on lighter note, you do not need to have taken up a degree course in Business Law colleges to know the basic ideas of it. Just to give you an overview of what to consider in putting up a small business. The law require you to meet these;

• Civil Rights Act of 1966.
• The Equal Pay Act of 1963
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
• The Equal Employment Opportunity Act
• The Bankruptcy Act
• The Occupational Safety and Health Act
• Family Medical Leave Act
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act Labor Law
• Fair Labor Standards Act

If you think you are ready to tackle this matters, it is wise to hire a consultant to explore these important aspect of the business that you are about to put up. the bottom line, make sure you comply with all the requirements so as not to put your self and your business in trouble.

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There are a handful of basic labor laws that do generally protect U.S. workers. It’s probably fair to say that most employers adhere to these basic labor laws, because they’d be darned foolish if they do not apply it and if they want to stay out of court. But, that’s typically the job of those in the HR and legal-department levels, where the employees are properly trained in such matters. The companies are also made up of other employees, who might never have heard of these basic labor laws or fully understand their significance. That’s one way problems occur, especially if HR and legal departments don’t bother to properly train those in control, like jerky bosses. Another way problems occur is that, for obvious legal reasons, HR and legal departments are unlikely to openly admit that employee complaints and accusations have merit, and the company is liable. Worse, they might even protect the perpetrators more than the victims.

The marketing of private medicare plans is governed by the principles and code of ethics of the marketing industry. However, there comes a time when marketing practices become too aggressive and customers are left with less freedom over choosing the perfect medicare plan for them. This must be the main reason why some U.S. states are seeking more regulatory authority over the marketing of medicare plans. Or so they believe.

MedicalNewsToday.com shares that several states will soon ask Congress to let them set marketing standards for private medicare plans. Apparently, they are continuously flooded with complaints regarding the “abuses” of firms selling medicare plans. I think that if this is really the case, then pushing for more regulatory authority is justified. Let’s see in the next few weeks if Congress shares the same viewpoint.

For more juicy details, click here.