The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was created in 1935 by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). It holds itself out as neutral and independent — a federal agency “where [most private sector] employees, employers and unions can file charges alleging illegal behavior, or file petitions seeking an election regarding union representation.”
Archives for October 21, 2020
Employees Voting in the Upcoming Election
With the election coming on Tuesday, Nov. 3, a large number of Americans are expected to cast their ballots. The United States Election Project estimates that a record-setting 150 million – or 65 percent of the U.S. population – will vote. This is the highest percentage of eligible voters in more than 100 years. The Washington Post estimated that two weeks before Election Day, at least 31.4 million had already voted.
Study Finds Surge In Misuse of Fentanyl, Heroin and Nonprescribed Opioids During COVID-19 Pandemic
According to a new Quest Diagnostics Health Trends study published on October 8, 2020, the misuse of fentanyl, heroin and nonprescribed opioids has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study analyzed more than 872,000 de-identified lab results from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The researchers compared drug
DHS Issues Interim Final Rule Defining Key Practices for Adjudicating H-1B Third-Party Placement Petitions
On October 8, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its interim final rule, “Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program,” which will become effective December 7, 2020. This rule brings clarity to prior U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjudication policies that had been interpreted through two
New California Law Expands Successor Liability for Labor Code Judgments
On September 30, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 3075, which amends the California Labor Code to allow employees to collect wage and hour judgments not only from their employers, but also from certain successor businesses that take over operations when the employers have failed to pay
Suits Challenge New Rules on H-1B and PERM Labor Certification Programs
Business groups, universities, and technology consulting firms have filed suits seeking to enjoin the new rules on H-1B and PERM labor certification programs issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) on October 8, 2020.
Those rules, both issued as Interim Final rules and
401(k) Plan Sponsors—Do You Need to Start Tracking Hours for Your Part-Time Employees?
At the end of 2019, President Donald Trump signed into law the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which included a number of changes to employer-sponsored retirement plans. One change involved expanding the ability of long-term, part-time employees to make 401(k) deferral contributions. While this change becomes
San Francisco Enacts “Tourist Hotel” Ordinance Requiring New Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols and Prohibiting Retaliation
“Tourist hotels” in San Francisco must soon comply with Ordinance No. 208-20 enacted on October 9, 2020, which establishes cleaning and disease prevention standards and practices to help contain COVID-19. The ordinance also requires employers to provide training related to these standards for employees, grants employees work and anti-retaliation