We hope you and your employees had a festive holiday season and happy New Year! It is always helpful to review your company policies and procedures on an annual basis, and policies and procedures on protection of trade secrets and confidential information are no different.
Department of Labor Issues Final Proxy Voting Rules for ERISA Plan Fiduciaries
On December 11, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL, or Department) issued final regulations providing rules under applicable provisions of ERISA concerning how plan fiduciaries should exercise shareholder rights, including proxy voting.
55 Jones Walker Attorneys Included in 2021 Louisiana Super Lawyers List
55 Jones Walker attorneys in the Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and New Orleans offices were selected for inclusion in the 2021 Louisiana Super Lawyers list.
Mississippi Should Follow New Federal Treatment of PPP Deductions
When Congress recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, it explicitly reversed the IRS’s earlier position that expenses paid with non-taxable forgiven PPP loan proceeds could not be deducted.
Court Blocks Executive Order Banning Certain Forms of Diversity Training for Federal Contractors
On October 27, we sent a client alert regarding the September 22 Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, which prohibited certain diversity training programs for federal employees and contractors. On December 22, a federal judge issued a nationwide injunction blocking the government from enforcing the Order.
DOL Eases FMLA Compliance Regarding Telemedicine Visits and Required Postings
On December 29, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued two guidance bulletins addressing compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Spell Featured as a Guest on HR Works Podcast Discussing EEOC Guidance About COVID-19 Vaccine
Maggie Spell, a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group, returned as a guest on the HR Works Podcast “COVID-19 Update: Can Employers Mandate COVID-19 Vaccines?” During this episode, she and show host Jim Davis discussed what employers should be evaluating in considering whether to make the vaccine mandatory, including the recent release of the EEOC guidance addressing the COVID-19 vaccine.
Employment Law Update: A Year in Review,
Most of our focus for 2020 has been on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but there have been many significant developments in the area of employment law worth noting. This alert features articles from throughout the year featuring Supreme Court opinions, Department of Labor rules, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance, and actions by the National Labor Relations Board from 2020 that you may have missed while focused on COVID-19.
Employment Law Update: A Year in Review
Most of our focus for 2020 has been on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but there have been many significant developments in the area of employment law worth noting.
In the News: Can Employers Require the COVID-19 Vaccine?
From when one will be available in the United States to where you may fall in the priority line, COVID-19 vaccines are dominating the news cycle right now. Unsurprisingly, a common question from employers has emerged: can we require employees to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine before returning to work?
Updated CDC Guidance on Quarantine Length for Exposed Individuals Who Are Asymptomatic
On December 2nd, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance on the length of quarantine required for an individual who is asymptomatic but was in close contact with someone with COVID-19. The prior guidance required quarantine for 14 days (other than for critical infrastructure workers). The
Jones Walker Attorneys in Alabama and Mississippi Recognized in 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers List
Jones Walker LLP is pleased to announce 13 attorneys in Alabama and Mississippi have been named in the 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers list. Additionally, two attorneys in the Jackson office were selected as 2020 Mid-South “Rising Stars.”
The Pandemic Is Far from Over, but I-9 “Flexibility” Might Be
You’re probably used to having Plan A, Plan B, and a plethora of contingency plans to deal with the many challenges posed by the pandemic. Because the government has not decided whether to extend the “flexibility” given to employers with respect to the verification of I-9 documents, employers might need
Mississippi Governor Proposes Elimination of Individual Income Tax
In a Monday press conference on Facebook Live, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves laid out an ambitious plan to eliminate the state’s individual income tax in the upcoming legislative session starting in January.
Adams Quoted in HRLaws.com Article on Expected Employment Changes During Biden Administration
Mark Adams, a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group in the New Orleans office, was quoted in the HRLaws.com article “Employers Exploring What Changes a Biden Administration Will Bring” on the impact a new administration will have on policies affecting the workplace.
Social Profiles