Alka Ramchandani-Raj, member of the Workplace Safety and Health practice, and Michael Chichester, Co-Chair of the Robotics, AI and Automation practice, discuss key safety considerations as employers rapidly adopt automated technologies to aid their workforces in response to the current pandemic.
Articles Discussing Human Resources And Other Workplace Topics.
EEOC Updates COVID-19 Technical Guidance with Added Resources
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC”) has updated its technical assistance document, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws” to include additional information related to the EEOC’s position on various issues […]
The post EEOC Updates COVID-19 Technical Guidance with Added
SEC Amends Whistleblower Award Program Rules
With a vote split down party lines, on September 23, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved several amendments to rules governing its Whistleblower Program. The purpose of the amendments, according to the SEC, is “to provide greater clarity to whistleblowers and increase the program’s efficiency and transparency.”1
Bipartisan Name, Image, Likeness Bill Introduced In Congress
Legislation that would protect the rights of student-athletes to receive financial benefits from the commercial use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL), while prohibiting athletic associations, like the NCAA and colleges and universities, from preventing student-athletes from participating in intercollegiate athletics as a result of entering into endorsement contracts
Employers, Don’t Let Your Guard Down: COVID-19–Related Employment Lawsuits Are in Full Swing
We previously reported on COVID-19–related employment lawsuits that we tracked from late March 2020 through early May 2020. Since then, the number of lawsuits has steadily risen as employers have resumed operations after shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders were lifted and students returned to school in virtual or hybrid environments. To
New York Federal District Court Vacates Significant Portion of DOL’s Joint-Employer Rule
On September 8, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) final joint-employer rule, which limited when multiple businesses involved in an employment relationship could be liable for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Workplace Safety, Hazard Prevention, and Premium Pay During COVID-19 Pandemic
Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, workplace safety and hazard prevention are more important than ever for manufacturers and other employers of essential employees.
DOL Provides Enforcement Reprieve for Certain Seasonal Establishments Coping with COVID-19
On September 15, 2020, the United States Department of Labor assured existing, seasonal-based establishments they could engage in alternative activities to cope with the financial fallout from COVID-19, without losing their minimum wage and overtime exemption. The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued a Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) stating
Election Day is Fast Approaching – Have You Prepared?
As Election Day approaches and despite the anticipated uptick in absentee ballots, employers should ensure they are in compliance with state law requirements related to employee voting rights. While not all states impose requirements on employers, some impose time off obligations and notice requirements with the possibility of criminal or civil penalties for non-compliance.
Construction Contractors Ramping Up Diversity Efforts
In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd and the resulting Black Lives Matters protests, many companies, including construction companies, issued public statements decrying racism and asserting their support for improvements in diversity and inclusion in their companies, their industry, and the country.
Right to Refuse to Bargain Over Union’s COVID-19 Proposal in Collective Bargaining Agreement?
Construction employers should remain mindful of the terms of their collective bargaining agreements and their obligations under the National Labor Relations Act, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Division of Advice reminded employers in five COVID-19 Advice emails as construction continues and resumes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal Judge Declares Portions of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Mitigation Orders Unconstitutional
Finding the good intentions behind COVID-19-related safety orders laudable but insufficient to overcome liberty interests in the rights to free assembly, due process, and equal protection, a federal judge in Pittsburgh has declared unconstitutional portions of COVID-19 orders enacted by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.
Amended Workers’ Compensation Benefits for COVID-19 Positive Employees
Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 1159 (“SB 1159”) on September 17, 2020, which could expand the definition of injury under the workers’ compensation system to include illness or death resulting from COVID-19. In May, the governor had issued an executive order which created a presumption that any COVID-19-related illness of
The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine – Planning for the Employer Response
Many employers are hopeful that a vaccine for COVID-19 will be the silver bullet that will enable employers to return to some semblance of a pre-COVID workplace. Assuming a vaccine is developed, can an employer mandate that employees be vaccinated before coming back to work? What happens when an
Is a COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccine in Your Company’s Future? Considerations at the Start of Flu Season
Each year we review the validity of mandatory flu vaccinations. It is usually in the context of health care organizations, as few other employers have had the same need. In the last few years, the analysis has remained the same: (1) what is the justification (often, employee and patient safety);
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