The proposed American Families Plan would expand access to education and child care. It would be financed partly through higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
Archives for April 28, 2021
Battered U.S. Office Market Perks Up With Workers Trickling Back
After a number of false starts over the past year, corporate America is finally bringing workers back to the office.
‘Within our own walls.’ Employees at federal civil rights watchdog describe their own workplace discrimination, retaliation in Texas
Devastated by the police killing of George Floyd last spring, Patonia Rhule wanted to start a dialogue at her job about systemic racism. It seemed appropriate: She is an investigator at the federal watchdog agency responsible for protecting American workers from discrimination.
Steal the Swedish Secret of ‘Lillördag’ for a Happier Workweek
The ritual of ‘Little Saturday’ is the perfect mid-week palate cleanser.
President Biden to Issue Executive Order Today Directing $15 Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors
The White House has released a Fact Sheet detailing an expected Executive Order from President Biden raising the minimum wage for certain federal contractors to $15 an hour by March 2022. The new executive order will expand upon the Federal Minimum Wage Executive Order 13658 signed by President Obama in
CDC’s New Guidance for ‘Fully Vaccinated’ Individuals Provides Updates on Gatherings, Exposure, and Travel
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the activities in which a “fully vaccinated” individual can engage. These new guidelines apply in non-healthcare settings.
California Court Affirms PAGA Claims Based on Cal/OSHA Violations: Are Further PAGA-Cal/OSHA Actions to Come?
In Sargent v. Board of Trustees of the California State University, the California Court of Appeal highlighted an important distinction between Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims asserted against a public entity employer based on statutes that themselves provide for civil penalties and PAGA claims that are based on PAGA’s
DOH Employee Error Causes Breach of COVID-19 and Other Health Data Affecting Nearly 165,000 Individuals
In a recent post, we highlighted the need for a privacy and cybersecurity training program, one not solely focused on spotting phishing attempts (although that is quite important as well). A primary reason, quite simply, is that employees continue to be a leading cause of data breaches. This fact was
USCIS Reinstates ‘Prior Deference’ Policy in Adjudicating Extensions of Visa Matters Involving Same Parties and Facts
On April 27, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated policy guidance “instructing officers to give deference to prior determinations when adjudicating extension requests involving the same parties and facts unless there was a material error, material change, or new material facts.” This USCIS policy update reverts back
OSHA Prepares to Issue COVID-19 Emergency Regulations
On April 26, 2021, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration sent emergency workplace safety rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to the Office of Management and Budget for review.
To Record Vaccine Reactions Or Not – The Form 300 Question
Do either Cal/OSHA or Fed/OSHA require employers to record instances of reactions to COVID-19 vaccines as a “workplace” injury or illness on the “Form 300”?
USCIS Announces Return to Deference Policy
Deference is back! USCIS announced that, effective immediately, it will reinstate its 2004 policy of deferring to prior determinations of eligibility.
Rescinded by the Trump administration, this policy directed officers to “generally defer to prior determinations of eligibility when adjudicating petition extensions involving the same parties and facts as the
How to Create a Successful Virtual Internship Program
The pandemic required companies across the globe to become nimble seemingly overnight to effectively safeguard the well-being of employees while keeping their business moving forward.
Managing Your WFH Paranoia
Martina paced the floor next to her desk. Chewing her fingernails, her mind raced with worries.
Executive Order on Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors Issued
As previewed, on April 27, 2021 President Biden issued an Executive Order directing the minimum wage for certain federal contractors be increased to $15 per hour. The Executive Order on Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors states that the minimum wage for certain hourly workers be increased to $15