The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was passed on March 18, 2020, with an effective date of April 1. Subsequent (and sometimes conflicting) guidance left employers and employment lawyers scrambling to...
Employment Law Letter
If we have learned anything from the current pandemic, it is this—we don't yet have a universal, comprehensive understanding of COVID-19. As both federal and state governments begin to discuss reopening the economy, this...
State employee disciplinary reports qualify as confidential personnel records exempt from disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act, the state supreme court recently ruled. Facts After being convicted of federal...
With Washington businesses continuing to operate under Governor Jay Inslee's "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, workers' compensation may not be of primary concern. As we all...
In an opinion likely to have wide-ranging impact, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (which has jurisdiction over Alaska employers) recently decided after-acquired evidence barred an employee’s employment...
Many businesses throughout the Southeast and the country are struggling with the constant changes brought about by COVID-19. One particular area of concern is whether a business can cancel a contract (whether employment...
On Monday, May 4, the IRS and the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) jointly published a rule in the Federal Register significantly extending the time in which...
Traditionally, employers aren't in the business of giving unemployment advice to their (former) employees. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, many employers are going to great lengths to find ways to assist...
Recognizing the valuable function minors serve in the workforce, Governor Tony Evers issued an emergency order on March 26 allowing employers to hire minors without a child labor permit while labor permit offices are...
“Do I have to pay worker’s compensation benefits to an employee who trips on her dog and injures her knee while working from home?” This may not be the first question on employers’ minds as they adjust to the new norm of...
It’s no secret that lunch or meal breaks provide numerous benefits to employees and employers. Breaks have been shown to increase productivity and stimulate mental focus. Considering how important and healthy breaks are...
Over the past several years, employers worried about the safety of employees and clients (especially during the annual flu season) have moved toward implementing vaccination policies in the workplace. At the time of this...
Only approximately 20 percent of households have a parent who stays at home. The majority of parents face an extremely challenging question after the birth of a child. They must decide whether to put a newborn child in...
Q If an exempt employee is asked to help on a proposal (not part of his normal job duties) and he expected to be compensated but wasn't, is that an issue? Someone also asked him to track his time. Can we pay him a bonus...
In a matter of weeks, many aspects of our lives have changed in dramatic ways. With everyone collectively experiencing a seismic shift, we wanted to put together a guide for what to do with your new situation, from...