On the discussion on student stage management kits, we were discussing the murky legal issues of the legality of handing people over the counter medication. Some of us are aware of the legal issues involved in it. As always, laws vary from state to state, country to country. But it is good to be aware that there are parts of our jobs that come up against laws. Everyone should be aware of these issues.
** THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE **
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules brings up issues about what you can tell people about other people's health issues and concerns.
There are hiring practices about age, race, sex, gender, sexual orientation - - - I remember once being told by a PSM that, for the one open slot, he was looking for African American Woman . . . seriously? I was not that interested in working with the PSM. Twice in my life I have been told straight out, I was NOT being hired because I was white?
Also, our paperwork, books, reports, etc - can be subpoenaed.
Copyright laws in dealing with scripts, scores, and video recording. (Or, how do we feel when know a sound designer puts a song in the show you don't have the rights to . . . )
And these have nothing or little to do with the union rules we operated under.
What other legal issues does our find us navigating?