Life under the COVID-19 pandemic is sometimes described as the “New Normal.” However, the New Normal keeps changing. Cases and hotspots move around the country. Guidance from federal, state, and local bodies is updated frequently.
Articles Discussing Human Resources And Other Workplace Topics.
FDIC Loosens Requirements for Employment With Financial Institutions
On July 24, 2020, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) released a final rule to revise and codify into the agency’s regulations the FDIC’s Statement of Policy (SOP) on Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. Section 19 generally prohibits any person from participating in banking who has been
Executive Order Limits Federal Contractors’ Use of Foreign Labor
On August 3, 2020, the White House issued an Executive Order on Aligning Federal Contracting and Hiring Practices with the Interests of American Workers, directing federal agencies to contract with those who prioritize the hiring of U.S. citizens and green card holders over foreign workers for contract positions.
School’s Out for … Fall? Managing Employees’ Need to Care for Children When School Is Virtual
In March 2020, everyone thought we just need to occupy our children at home for a few weeks, maybe through spring break, and we would be fine. Then it was “just make it to summer.” Now summer is winding down and many kids are not going back to school full-time
Back To Square One: Court Ruling Upends COVID-19 Leave Rules
In a surprising and significant ruling yesterday, a New York federal judge tossed out several key Department of Labor rules regulating the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), meaning that more workers will be able to take paid leave under the new law. The ruling also creates uncertainty for employers trying to comply with administrative aspects of the leave act requirements, and brings us back to the confusing early days of the new law before the DOL issued clarifying regulations. The scope of the ruling is unclear at present, as the judge did not specifically indicate if it applies nationally or just in New York. However, even if limited in scope, the same reasoning could be followed by other courts considering similar challenges in other parts of the country.
EEOC to Resume Dismissing Charges of Discrimination Following Suspension due to COVID-19 Pandemic
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced on August 3, 2020, that it will begin dismissing charges that were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Court Rules with New York: DOL “Jumped the Rail” in Restricting Pandemic Paid Leave
In a decision with far-reaching implications, U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York sided with the State of New York in striking down a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Final Rule limiting the circumstances under which employees can gain access to sick leave and emergency family leave benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With COVID-19 Resurgent, Employers Confront Privacy and Information Security Issues When Testing Employees for COVID-19
With the resurgence of COVID-19 infections across the United States, employers are facing growing pressure to ascertain whether their employees have contracted the virus. Temperature checks and symptoms screening, while helpful, will not identify employees who are asymptomatic and potentially contagious. This gap is critical because studies show that up to
Elections, Political Protests, and the Workplace
As campaign season heats up and political protests continue on top of an already stressed workforce, most employers seek to maintain a harmonious work environment. While perhaps tempting to regulate employee behavior to keep politics out of the workplace, employers should tread carefully.
Under California’s discrimination laws, political affiliation is
GOP Stimulus Bill Would Give Some PPP Borrowers a Second Draw and Expand Forgivable Expenditures
Senate Republicans have introduced the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act, a nearly one-trillion-dollar stimulus package comprised of a package of bills that includes the Continuing Small Business Recovery and Paycheck Protection Program Act (HEALS PPP).
Will the Public Health Emergency Privacy Act Make it into the Next Stimulus Package?
Despite several attempts, Congress has struggled to push forward a federal consumer privacy law over the past few years. But the COVID-19 pandemic, which has raised concerns regarding location monitoring, GPS tracking and use of health data, has heightened the urgency for federal consumer privacy legislation. In May, a group
The Pros and Cons of Federal COVID-19 Liability Protections
Congress is currently battling over another coronavirus relief package and one of the main areas of contention is COVID-19 liability protections for businesses.
Senate Republicans Propose Bill to Shield Employers From COVID-19 Related Lawsuits
By: Senate Republicans Propose Bill to Shield Employers From COVID-19 Related Lawsuits
This week, Senate Republicans introduced a bill (S-4317) that would provide employers with protections from certain types of COVID-19 lawsuits that are already being filed and are expected to increase in the coming months. Importantly, this would be a
5-Step Best Practices Plan For Reopening Manufacturing Facilities
Although COVID-19 remains a significant public health concern, companies throughout the country have reopened their manufacturing facilities. As they reopen, companies should follow certain best practices to ensure the safety of their employees and avoid potential liability. Here is a five-step best practices plan to put your company – and your employees – in the best position to succeed.
Transferring Employee Data after EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Invalidated
Businesses are now prohibited from transferring employee personal data from the European Economic Area (EEA) to the U.S. under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield program. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) declared the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield invalid in Data Protection Commissioner v. Facebook Ireland and Schrems (C-311/18) (Schrems
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