Nationwide employment law firm Jackson Lewis P.C. is pleased to announce Renee Nunley Smith has joined the firm’s Philadelphia office as a principal. Renee brings with her a depth of experience with over 20 years in private practice, primarily representing public and private employers in labor and employment law matters.
Archives for October 19, 2022
Failure to Identify Sound Comparisons Sinks ERISA Fee, Investment Claims in Eighth Circuit
Plaintiffs must plead a “sound basis for comparison—a meaningful benchmark” — to sustain their claims of imprudent investment and excessive fee against a 401(k) plan, the federal appeals court in St. Louis has held, dismissing a class action lawsuit for breached of fiduciary duties under ERISA. Matousek v. MidAmerican Energy Co., No. 21-2749 (8th Cir. Oct. 12, 2022).
Puerto Rico Disability Discrimination Law Covers Registered and Authorized Medical Cannabis Patients
Puerto Rico’s disability discrimination statute (Law 44-1985), the local counterpart of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has been amended to extend coverage to registered and authorized medical cannabis patients. The amendment (Law 90-2022) went into effect on October 14, 2022, upon Governor Pedro Pierluisi’s signing.
California Employer Action: Update COVID-19 Exposure Notice Protocols
On October 14, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) ordered a new definition of “Close Contact” effective immediately. The new definition requires employers to reexamine existing COVID-19 policies and notices to employees, update them to conform to the CDPH’s newest guidance and adapt related protocols. This is especially important as the COVID-19 notice mandate to provide notice of potential exposure to COVID-19 to employees was set to sunset on January 1, 2023 until Governor Newsom signed AB 2693 into law extending the notice requirement another year, through January 1, 2024.
Bank of Ireland offers workers paid menopause leave
Bank of Ireland Group is offering paid leave for women employees going through menopause, joining a growing list of companies trying to prevent women from exiting the workforce.
The man who won LGBTQ job protections nationwide settles his case with former employer
Gerald Bostock was abruptly fired six months after he joined a gay softball league.
Ex-Kirkland associate’s bias case packs a punch, but will it succeed?
You don’t need to convince me that gender bias remains a deep-rooted problem in the legal profession.
This is the difference between racism and racial bias
For most of us racial bias guides behavior and thought more invisibly than outright racism. It requires critical thinking and empathy to identify it and call it out successfully.
96% of bosses say they give in-office employees more recognition—how to combat ‘proximity bias’
The most ardent supporters of returning to the office have extolled the benefits of face-time: spontaneous brainstorms by the coffee maker, random run-ins with higher-ups, networking in the elevator.
You Can’t Blame High Prices on the Labor Market
Inflation is high because the Fed failed to conduct monetary policy responsibly over the past two years.
SASE And The Future Of Workplace Collaboration
As cloud collaboration comes to mediate more and more of our everyday business practices, the sensitive data stored in the cloud faces many new risks.
Acne Is Still Seen As Unprofessional In The Workplace. That Needs To Change.
After years of dealing with acne, certified nursing assistant Hayley Wester decided to forego wearing makeup at work to “let her skin breathe.”
Amazon Labor Union Loses Election at Warehouse Near Albany
By a 2-to-1 ratio, the group had its second defeat since a surprise victory in April on Staten Island.
New Crack in Apple’s Armor as Dozens Strike at Its Stores in Australia
The uprising will be of keen interest in the U.S., where a second Apple store voted to unionize last week.
How HR Lost Employees’ Trust — and How to Get It Back
New research reveals that people see HR as a last resort when they have a problem.