Employment Law Letter

Michigan employers must continue to require masks (for now)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released interim public health recommendations that state: “Fully vaccinated people can resume activities [in indoor and outdoor settings] without...

Jun 30, 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

Employee's claim termination violated public policy fails

The Connecticut Appellate Court recently affirmed the dismissal of a former employee's claim he was terminated in violation of the state's "public policy" for opposing a plan to use telephone poles that contained...

Jun 30, 2021 · Employment Law Letter · New England · Connecticut

Sleep deprivation is no excuse! Supervisor fired for sleeping on duty

A Massachusetts federal court judge recently put to bed the claims of a former transit cop fired for sleeping on the job. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) runs the public transit system in the Boston...

Jun 30, 2021 · Employment Law Letter · New England · Massachusetts

'First State' is first at working from home

WalletHub recently released a report ranking Delaware as the best state in the union for working from home. The study considered factors such as the share of workers working from home before COVID-19, Internet cost...

5th Circuit delivers win to UPS on discrimination, hostile environment claims

Objectively documenting an employee’s poor performance can dispose of discrimination claims before a costly trial, according to a recent decision from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Louisiana...

Allegations of rude, dismissive treatment not enough to support same-sex harassment claim

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Bostock decision extended the protections against discrimination and harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to gay and transgender persons. The landmark 2020 ruling, however...

4th Circuit: Failure to cooperate in investigation isn't protected activity

After two former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) employees filed wrongful termination claims, the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia employers)...

Jun 30, 2021 · Employment Law Letter · California · New York · Texas · 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

Your employee wasn't selected in H-1B lottery . . . now what?

A day after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) completed the H-1B cap-subject lottery selection process in late March, the winners were eligible to start filing. But what if your employee wasn't selected...

Pandemic sparks change in what employers seek in new college grads

As college students head back to campus this fall—or maybe prepare for an online-only semester—they are likely looking ahead to graduation and life after college. Employers also are looking ahead and wondering what these...

COVID took toll on working parents; now it's time to repair damage

There's no denying the misery COVID-19 has inflicted in the workplace. Although many employees quickly and successfully adjusted to remote work, others had a rougher time. With schools and daycares closing or going...

5th Circuit delivers twofer win for employee

After having won its case at the trial court level, an employer recently received an unpleasant double whammy from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Texas). Defeat could have been avoided, however, if...