Employment Law Letter

2020 from a New England perspective: It was wicked awful!

Brighter days are ahead, but looking back helps us to appreciate the future so much more. So how bad was 2020? Yes, COVID-19 was, and continues to be, a devastating disease affecting individuals, first responders...

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Unprecedented workplace challenges of 2020 spill into new year

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it 2,020 times: “That’s 2020 for you!” The past year has certainly taught us to expect the unexpected. After all, when is the last time employers encountered a nationwide pandemic, mass...

Initiative 65: medical marijuana in Mississippi and what you need to know

On November 3, 2020, Mississippi voters not only cast their votes for the presidency but also faced a choice about the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. The ballot measure, which passed, amends the state...

CDC, EEOC updates keep HR pros, employers on guard

The year 2020 has batted a thousand in terms of keeping HR pros and employment lawyers on their toes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been at the forefront of the efforts. Though certainly...

OSHA issues guidance on when to report COVID-19 hospitalizations, fatalities

As a follow-up to its May 2020 enforcement guidelines on recording workplace COVID-19 cases, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued additional guidance to employers for reporting coronavirus...

EEOC seeks to revise conciliation process in hopes of finally settling some cases

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently unveiled regulations to modify the presuit conciliation process in hopes of finally settling some employment disputes. What hasn’t been working well Imagine the...

Santa’s new HR director gets frosty reception at workshop

After a recent, unfortunate federal investigation at the North Pole (see “DOL takes critical view of Santa’s workshop”), Santa decided to bring in an experienced HR director to shore things up. Trouble at the North Pole...

Rising COVID-19 cases prompt stricter rules from MDHHS

On November 15, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) updated its emergency order with new, stricter requirements for the period of November 18 through December 8. Gathering restrictions for...

New MIOSHA guidance requires COVID-19 remote work policy

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) defines the workplace safeguards employers must implement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and investigates their failures to comply, using...

Sexual harassment, emotional distress caused by boss lead to big payday for employee

An attorney with a solo legal practice got what was coming to him when his legal assistant finally sued him after years of relentless and horrific mistreatment. She was awarded almost $200,000 in damages. You’re unlikely...

Payback time? Promoted employee fails to obtain required license

Q Thirty months ago, we promoted an individual to a position that requires a special license and included a pay raise. He has repeatedly failed to get his license and, as a result, has never been able to perform the job...

Outgoing Baltimore mayor vetoes 2 bills intended to protect hospitality workers

We recently alerted you about two bills passed by the Baltimore City Council that would have made doing business for certain employers in the city more difficult (see “Baltimore City Council approves 2 bills protecting...

Earned paid leave on the horizon for Maine employers

Beginning January 1, 2021, most Maine employers must offer at least 40 hours of earned paid leave (EPL) to their employees. Although this may sound simple, you should be careful to read the fine print—there are some...

Using Zoom improperly can destroy trade secret protections

With many employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have depended on Zoom or other web-based video conferencing tools to conduct meetings online. Users can choose to record sessions, collaborate...

2020: a look back and a look forward

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. 2020 has been a year of many challenges, among which has been...

Dec 31, 2020 · 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

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Employment Law Letter

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