Q As we look forward to the new year, what are the top employment law trends we should keep an eye on? A COVID has changed how people work in ways that may far outlast the pandemic itself. Many employers are finding...
Employment Law Letter
Almost two years ago, we told you a three-judge panel of the 10th Circuit (which covers Kansas and Oklahoma employers) had ruled employees can't sue the employer for failing to provide a reasonable accommodation under...
Aside from the personal and professional challenges 2020 presented (the COVID-19 pandemic, government shutdown orders, concerns about keeping employees safe, layoffs, remote working, homeschooling, and navigating the...
Healthcare employers have raised the question of mandatory vaccinations for their employees for several years. Because of COVID-19’s highly contagious nature, all employers are now wondering if they can require workers...
By now, many employees have been working from home since March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With no signs of slowing and the rollout of a vaccine to the general public not likely to occur until well into...
A terminated employee of a small business sued his former employer for discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The trial court entered summary judgment (dismissal without a trial) in favor of the...
On March 15, 2020, my husband and I took a video call from our older girl (technically my stepdaughter, though I’ve considered her and her sister to be my daughters for 16 years). We thought she and her fiancé were...
Q Can we prorate annual bonuses based on time away from work because of leaves of absence? Can we be more generous in prorating bonuses for Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leaves and less generous for non-FMLA...
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will see significant changes under a Biden administration. The nature and degree of the changes, however, will depend heavily on how President-elect Joe Biden fills senior roles not...
In a split decision, the Washington Supreme Court recently ruled dairy employees are entitled to overtime pay under state law if they work more than 40 hours a week. The 5-4 ruling nullified an exemption to the...
Beginning January 1, 2021, South Dakota’s minimum wage for hourly employees will increase to $9.45 per hour from the previous rate of $9.30 per hour. South Dakota adjusts its minimum wage as needed every year to stay in...
Several weeks ago, Tony Kessler, senior content manager at BLR®, sent an e-mail asking for perspectives on the year 2020. His note prompted this article. The year has been full of challenges, including racial unrest...
A temporary COVID-19 rule issued by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) creates new requirements for employers in the state. General requirements Oregon OSHA has issued a temporary rule in...
Recent days have brought encouraging news about the development of COVID-19 vaccines. The prospect of vaccines being available in early 2021 has caused employers to begin considering whether they will require employees...
Believe it or not, 2020 is nearly over. (Good riddance, right?) While the average Oklahoma workplace continues to look and function differently than ever before, some things never change. One day it may be nearly 70...