Tar Heel Pest Management News

May 2024

Registration Open for 2024 Carolinas/Mid-Atlantic Summer Conference

The Carolinas/Mid-Atlantic Conference will be here before we know it!

Registration and hotel bookings are now open for this fun event which will be held July 25-27 in Myrtle Beach!

Earn CEUs and enjoy all of the social activities including the annual cornhole tournament, family picnic, and closing beach BBQ!

Where:

Myrtle Beach Marriott Grande Dunes

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

When:

July 25-27, 2024

REGISTER HERE

We are now accepting applications for the NCPMA Education Foundation Past Presidents' Scholarship.

These scholarships are designed for students enrolling or currently enrolled in post-high-school programs at technical schools, colleges or universities. Winners of these scholarships must be owners or employees of NCPMA member companies or family members (spouses, children or grandchildren) of NCPMA member companies that have been in good standing with the organization for the past two years. An applicant’s spouse, parents or grandparents must fulfill a two-year minimum requirement of working in the pest management industry. If this obligation is not fulfilled, the money is subject to full repayment.

Deadline: May 15, 2024

Click here to apply!

A recent news release by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Plant Industry Division alerted North Carolina residents to the early-stage nests of the Yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina). The invasive species has been seen in Georgia and the southernmost point of South Carolina in 2023 and 2024.

To read the release, visit here.

Guest Column: Marie A. Horner, ACE, VP of Government Affairs, Arrow Exterminators, Inc.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) unveiled the final version of its Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace on 4/29/24, and it became effective immediately. The document can be found on the EEOC website at https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/enforcement-guidance-harassment-workplace.

This document addresses how harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information is defined under EEOC-enforced statutes and the analysis for determining whether employer liability is established.

Not all employers are covered by the laws that EEOC enforce, and not all employees are protected.  It depends on how many employees your business has:

If you have at least one employee: You are covered by the law that requires employers to provide equal pay for equal work to male and female employees.

If you have 15 to 19 employees: You are covered by the laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, and genetic information (including family medical history). You are also covered by the law that requires employers to provide equal pay for equal work.

If you have 20 or more employees: You are covered by the laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information (including family medical history). You are also covered by the law that requires employers to provide equal pay for equal work.

State and/or local employment discrimination laws may also apply to your business. State and local government websites may have information about these laws.

**Please note that the material provided in this article is for informational purposes only, is general in nature, and is not intended to and should not be relied upon or construed as a legal opinion. You should consult with your legal counsel or the EEOC to learn more about if and how this compliance policy affects your business.**