Employment Law Letter

5 ways to protect trade secrets during, after pandemic

As we hopefully head toward widespread COVID-19 vaccinations and back to some sort of new normal, employers should remember business information is often valuable because it’s secret, and it’s secret and protectable only...

Mar 31, 2021 · Employment Law Letter · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

NLRB accepting comments about restrictions for union insignia on company uniforms

Editor’s note: St. Louis attorney Robert A. Kaiser, who was interviewed for this story (which first appeared in the HR Daily Advisor), is a longtime editor of Missouri Employment Law Letter and a contributing editor to...

Pros and cons of offering COVID-19 vaccine incentives

With COVID-19’s negative impact on employee staffing levels and companies’ ability to operate, many employers have considered offering bonuses or other incentives to those who voluntarily receive the vaccine. But are the...

How to handle spring break travel in a COVID-19 world

After being cooped up for nearly a year because of COVID-19, many employees may be looking to take spring break getaways in the coming months. As is the case with most issues involving the pandemic, however, the travel...

General handbook disclaimer may not defeat PTO rights upon termination in MN

The Minnesota Supreme Court recently issued an employment law decision that will have a significant impact on HR policies across the state. Even when an employee handbook contains a general disclaimer stating no parts of...

OSHA strengthens federal guidance on COVID-19 workplace safety

On January 21, 2021, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order (EO) directing the labor secretary, acting through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to issue “revised guidance to employers on...

Failing to provide accommodation brings risk, even absent damages to worker

Under federal and state antidiscrimination statutes, most employers must provide reasonable accommodations to employees who experience a disability that interferes with their performance. The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of...

ME Superior Court issues decision in Portland emergency minimum wage case

Last November, Portland voters approved a referendum mandating “emergency pay” for workers on-site in the city. During state and city emergencies, employees are entitled to at least 1.5 times the minimum wage. Proponents...

4th Circuit: Law firm partner not protected by antidiscrimination statute

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal statute that provides antidiscrimination protections for workers. The protections, however, apply only to "employees." Recently, the 4th Circuit (which covers North...

Employers facing new climate related to contingent workers

The debate over what makes a worker an employee versus an independent contractor has been raging for years—throughout presidential administrations of both political parties. Sometimes employers work under a strict...

Staffing firms considered 'retail or service' for FLSA overtime purposes

The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recently issued an opinion letter declaring staffing firms may be considered a "retail or service establishment." Therefore, they pass the threshold...

Mar 21, 2021 · Employment Law Letter · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Examining what a post-COVID 'new normal' workplace may look like

When the COVID-triggered exodus away from the office began a year ago, most workers expected their work from home (WFH) arrangements to be short-lived. But the pandemic wore on, leaving many pining for the good old days...

Mar 07, 2021 · Employment Law Letter · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Q - A: Yes, you can limit cell phone usage at work

Q Our company wants to implement a policy to limit personal cell phone usage only to break times. Can we ask workers to put their phones in their work lockers or on their supervisors' desks? Yes, you can limit cell phone...

Feb 28, 2021 · Employment Law Letter · Great Lakes · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · Ohio · Wisconsin · Mid-Atlantic · Delaware · Maryland · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Virginia · Midsouth · Kentucky · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia · Midwest · Arkansas · Kansas · Missouri · Oklahoma · Mountain West · Colorado · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Utah · Wyoming · New England · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · Rhode Island · Vermont · Southeast · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Louisiana · Mississippi · Upper Midwest · Iowa · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota · West · Alaska · Arizona · Hawaii · Nevada · Oregon · Washington

Having multiple persons in termination decision overcomes bias claim

Every employer is faced with having to terminate employees involuntarily and thereby exposing themselves to discrimination claims. There are steps you can take, however, to improve the likelihood the claims will be...

Events distant in time can't support retaliation claim, 8th Circuit rules

Many employers have faced the problem of an employee filing a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or complaining about discrimination and then having to deal with the individual alleging a...

Arkansas Stephen W. Jones of Jack Nelson Jones, PLLC, and Audra Hamilton and Nathan Read of Mitchell Williams
Kansas Boyd A. Byers, Teresa L. Shulda, and Tara Eberline of Foulston Siefkin LLP
Missouri Robert A. Kaiser, Jeremy Brenner, and Ida S. Shafaie of Armstrong Teasdale LLP
Oklahoma Charles S. Plumb, Courtney Bru, Paul Ross, Philip Bruce, and Jacob Crawford of McAfee & Taft

Delaware Lauren Russell of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
Maryland Steven E. Bers and David M. Stevens of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, L.L.P.
New Jersey John C. Petrella and Dina M. Mastellone of Genova Burns LLC
Pennsylvania Dena Calo, Lisa Koblin, Carolyn Pellegrini, and Zachary Kimmel of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP
Virginia Jonathan Mook and Bernard J. DiMuro of DiMuroGinsberg PC

Illinois Steven L. Brenneman and Kelly Smith-Haley of Fox, Swibel, Levin & Carroll, LLP
Indiana Brian R. Garrison of Faegre Drinker
Michigan Gary S. Fealk and John T. Below of Bodman PLC
Ohio Fred G. Pressley, Jr., Jourdan D. Day, and John M. Stephen of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP
Wisconsin Saul Glazer, Troy D. Thompson, Michael J. Westcott, Leslie A. Sammon, and Heath Straka of Axley Brynelson LLP

Kentucky Richard S. Cleary, John T. Lovett, Robert D. Hudson, and Kathleen Biggs Wright of Frost Brown Todd LLC
North Carolina Richard L. Rainey of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
South Carolina Richard J. Morgan, James K. Gilliam, Jonathan C. Eggert, and Chandler E. Aragona of Burr & Forman LLP
Tennessee Kara E. Shea and David Johnson of Butler Snow LLP
West Virginia Larry J. Rector and Allison B. Williams of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

Alabama Albert L. Vreeland and David J. Middlebrooks of Lehr Middlebrooks Vreeland & Thompson, P.C.
Florida G. Thomas Harper of The Law and Mediation Offices of G. Thomas Harper, LLC, Lisa Berg and Andrew Rodman of Stearns Weaver Miller, and Robert J. Sniffen and Jeff Slanker of Sniffen & Spellman, P.A.
Georgia Raanon Gal of Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Glianny Fagundo of Thompson Hine LLP and Chris Butler of the Chris Butler Firm
Louisiana H. Mark Adams and Jennifer Kogos of Jones Walker LLP
Mississippi Martin J. Regimbal of The Kullman Firm

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