Over the years, courts dealing with employment discrimination suits against churches, synagogues, and other religious organizations have carved out an exemption that bars claims by "ministerial" employees challenging the...
Employment Law Letter
Q During “normal” times, my workforce is located in Iowa and, for the most part, works from our office. We don’t have office locations in other states or countries. Now, most of my workforce is working remotely. A few...
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently clarified which healthcare providers are exempt from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act’s (FFCRA) paid sick and family and medical leave policies. How we got here When...
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has informed the public that "close contact" with infected persons poses a high risk of contracting the virus. The agency...
Some 4,822 coronavirus-related workers' compensation claims were reported to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) through September 11, 2020, according to data recently released by the agency. The data...
Some workplace cases provide multiple lessons about employment discrimination. Recently, the 8th Circuit (which covers Arkansas and Missouri employers) rendered a decision providing guidance on discrimination, harassment...
President Donald Trump recently signed an Executive Order (EO 13950) that seeks to "combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating" and end so-called "divisive concepts" covered in certain...
Everybody—from CEOs to frontline workers, design specialists to space planners, Gen Z and Millennials to Boomers—is wondering what the post-COVID workplace will look like. Despite the myriad ideas floating around, the...
The holiday season is upon us, but it just doesn't seem so festive this year. Many employees are still isolated as they work from home. Essential workers are in the workplace but worried about the risks they face by...
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to “shelter-at-home” proclamations from state and local governments, causing many nonessential businesses to shut down temporarily. Employers have handled the crisis in varying ways, some by...
Q We have an employee who definitely showed signs of being on drugs or alcohol at work. We want to let him go per our handbook policies that prohibit employees from being at work under the influence of alcohol or drugs...
With kids going back to school, new questions about eligibility for paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) are cropping up. The FFCRA, which remains in effect until December 31, 2020...
Lately, we've been fielding questions from employers about the legality of mandating influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for employees. While a fair amount of information is available for flu vaccines, we expect federal and...
Are Maryland employers always responsible when an employee has a wreck in a company car? A recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland provides helpful guidance on the issue. How law usually...
Following are some of the significant pieces of legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly last spring that take effect on October 1, 2020. Maryland’s ‘mini-WARN Act’ now has sharp teeth House Bill (HB) 1018...