The U.S. Supreme Court has found that Philadelphia’s ordinance requiring a private foster care agency to certify same-sex couples as foster parents burdened the agency’s religious exercise in violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.
Archives for June 20, 2021
New York Lifts Remaining COVID-19 Restrictions
With 70 percent of adult New Yorkers having received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, as of June 15, 2021, New York lifted restrictions imposed on most industries under the NY Forward and COVID-19 Safety Plan rules that had been in effect since last spring.
U.S. Department of Education Will Protect LGBTQ+ Students
It will fully enforce Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from it, the U.S. Department of Education has clarified in a Notice of Interpretation.
Nevada Enacts Right to Return Law for Certain Workers Laid Off During and After COVID-19 Pandemic
Beginning July 1, 2021, under the Nevada Hospitality and Travel Workers Right to Return Act (Senate Bill 386), certain employers in the casino, hospitality, stadium, and travel industries must offer their former employees laid off or furloughed due to the COVID-19 pandemic the opportunity to return to work.
Illinois Lawmakers Put Right of Workers to Unionize, Engage in Collective Bargaining on 2022 Ballot
If passed by voters in November 2022, an amendment to the Illinois Constitution would preclude the State of Illinois and any local governmental entity from passing a “right-to-work” law, establishing a fundamental right of employees to unionize and engage in collective bargaining.
Michelle Phillips Discusses Bisexual Protections Following Bostock Ruling
Michelle Phillips discusses the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in “Bostock v. Clayton County” for bisexual workers in “Bostock’s Protections For Bi Workers May Be Tested In Court,” published by Law360.
Courtney Malveaux Discusses COVID-19 Regulations in Virginia
Courtney Malveaux discusses the implications of anticipated changes from the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board including aligning state requirements with CDC guidance and eliminating the permanent standard for COVID-19 in the workplace in “Virginia’s COVID-19 workplace rules could be up for revision or repeal,” published by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
LGBTQ+ Protections in the Workplace Post Bostock
The Supreme Court in Bostock held that the prohibition against discrimination on the basis of “sex” includes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Abigail Larimer Joins FordHarrison’s Atlanta Office as Counsel
FordHarrison LLP, one of the country’s largest management-side labor and employment law firms, is pleased to announce that Abigail (Abby) J. Larimer has joined the firm’s Atlanta, GA, office as counsel. Abby comes to FordHarrison from Morris, Manning and Martin LLP.
How Do They Say Economic Recovery? ‘I Quit.’
With new opportunities and a different perspective as the pandemic eases, workers are choosing to leave their jobs in record numbers.
Court: If bias rules have exceptions, faith groups qualify
A new ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court has put governmental entities on notice: If they want to ban discrimination against LGBTQ people or anyone else, they must not allow for any exceptions or else religious groups will have the right to ask for them
Minnesota man refuses to provide fingerprints, gets fired for it
Henry Harrington said he was sacked for refusing requirement on religious grounds
Labor Law: NY’s Andrew Cuomo’s statements on harassment show common misunderstandings around harassment
What is harassment?
Return to offices bring concerns
Employers urged to consider workers’ feelings
As offices shut down for Covid, workers bought vans and hit the road — and some don’t want to return
A number of workers have used the freedom of working remotely during the pandemic to leave behind their sedentary housing and move full-time into vans.