The Beltway Buzz is a weekly update summarizing labor and employment news from inside the Beltway and clarifying how what’s happening in Washington, D.C. could impact your business.
Archives for August 6, 2021
Medical Cannabis Patients in Puerto Rico Gain Employment Protections
Registered and authorized patients of medical cannabis in Puerto Rico are considered a protected category for purposes of all employment laws under an amendment to the “Act to Manage the Study, Development and Investigation of Cannabis for Innovation, Applicable Norms and Limitations” signed by Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi on July
IRS Updates FAQs to Include Leave to Accompany Someone to a COVID-19 Vaccination or to Care for Someone for COVID-19 Vaccination-Related Illnesses
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) extends tax credits available to covered employers who provide qualified sick and family leave wages (within the meaning of ARPA) to their employees between April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently updated its FAQs on the
California Mandates Vaccination for Workers in the Health Care Industry by September 30th
With the significant increase in COVID-19 cases, the state of California has started implementing new measures to try to combat the rise. On July 26, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an order requiring covered healthcare facilities to verify the vaccination status of all workers and put
Louisiana Enacts Law Impacting Employer Consideration of Applicant Criminal Histories
On June 9, 2021, the Louisiana State Legislature passed House Bill (HB) No. 707, a measure that prohibits discrimination in employment based on criminal history records and that provides criteria for employers making hiring decisions in conjunction with criminal history records. This development will likely be good news for formerly
Withdrawal Liability – Real Property Presumed a Trade or Business
An employer’s permanent cessation of contributions to a multiemployer pension plan can trigger withdrawal liability. This liability may reach affiliated trades or businesses with sufficient common ownership to be under “common control” with the employer. The affiliates would be jointly and severally liable for withdrawal liability incurred and unpaid by
Mandatory Employee Vaccines – Coming to A State Near You?
While available vaccines have proven highly effective in controlling COVID-19 and its variants to date, the virus continues to spread — particularly among unvaccinated populations. In the face of flagging interest, officials across the U.S. have tried different approaches to increase vaccination rates. For example, officials launched incentive programs,
16 Tips For Combating Unconscious Bias In Decision Making
Business leaders have to focus on so many different areas to keep things running smoothly.
Cuomo’s top aide resigns as fallout from harassment report continues to build
Melissa DeRosa, a fixture by Andrew Cuomo’s side for months during his coronavirus news conferences, resigned late Sunday
How You Can Make Extra Income By Renting Out Your Offices
There are a lot of things newspaper trend pieces get wrong about millennials, but one thing they’ve gotten right is this: Millennials are choosing a different path than the generations before them.
Labor Lost a Great One in Richard Trumka
We were adversaries, sometimes allies, but always with a healthy respect for each other.
Managers And Knowledge Workers Have It Tough And Here’s Why
My sympathies lie with managers and knowledge workers. They are hard working, devoted, and always expected to accomplish more with less.
Cybersecurity Spending Is Rising As Workers Return to Offices. Here’s How to Play It.
Cybersecurity companies are prospering as businesses shift to cloud platforms, while recent ransomware attacks have highlighted a growing need for security.
Fraternization in the Workplace: Practical Guidance for Nonprofit Boards
Recent headlines regarding Bill Gates’ romantic overtures to women employed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are an important reminder that nonprofit boards are not immune to the risks posed by employee fraternization.
For first time, average pay for supermarket and restaurant workers tops $15 an hour
$15 an hour is suddenly the rule, not the exception, for U.S. workers. It’s a major shift from pre-pandemic norms