Several weeks ago, we published a CCPA FAQS on Cookies, which provides a high-level look at how the impending CCPA may apply to website cookies. The CCPA’s definition of personal information is expansive, and in preparation for the CCPA it is easy to overlook certain elements of personal information, in particular website cookies.
Articles Discussing General Human Resources Issues.
Is Foresight 2020? Employers Confront New Laws Taking Effect in the New Year
As the year draws to a close, employers are assessing the next wave of labor and employment laws and regulations they will face in 2020 and beyond. Most new laws taking effect at the end of 2019 and throughout 2020 are at the state and local levels, presenting compliance challenges for employers with operations in multiple jurisdictions. This article highlights labor and employment activity at the federal level, and summarizes some of the key generally applicable laws and regulations that will affect employers in the year to come.
US Senate Bill Passes, Seeking to Establish “Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Teams”
More than 500 United States schools (connected with 54 different education entities such as school districts and colleges) have been infected with ransomware during the first nine months of 2019, according to a recent report by cybersecurity firm Armor, making the education sector one of the leading ransomware targets, following only municipalities as the top ransomware target. We recently noted in this blog the NYS Education Department’s efforts to combat cyber threats against schools.
Navigating Change and Building a Workforce for Tomorrow
Natalie Pierce, co-chair of Littler’s Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Automation practice group, and Debra Kadner, machine learning expert and cofounder of Eskalera, discuss the framework for helping employers build their workforces for the future.
Veterans Day: Going Beyond Giving a Day Off
The tradition of annually recognizing the courage and contribution of our veterans dates back to November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. November 11th became a national holiday in 1938; employers in both the private and public sectors continue to search for ways to thank veterans for their service and sacrifices.
Department of Justice Guidance on Companies’ Claim of Inability to Pay Criminal Fines
The Department of Justice Criminal Division has clarified its policy on the Department’s assessment of a company’s claim that it cannot afford to pay a criminal fine in a memorandum issued on October 8, 2019. Criminal Division department head Brian Benczkowski had previewed the memorandum during a speech in September.
Today’s Affinity Groups: Risks and Rewards
Affinity groups, also known as employee resource groups (ERGs), bring together employees with similar backgrounds or interests and can have a powerful influence in the workplace.
Celebrate National Cybersecurity Awareness Month with CCPA FAQs!
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM)! NCSAM is an annual event designed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and co-led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCSA). NCSAM is a collaborative effort by both government and industry leaders intended to enhance public awareness regarding cybersecurity . This year’s agenda emphasizes personal accountability and taking proactive steps both at home and in the workplace to enhance cybersecurity. This year’s motto is Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT – #becybersmart, and focuses on areas such as consumer privacy, consumer devices and e-commerce security.
Dear Littler: Should I Allow Leave for Domestic Abuse Affecting an Employee’s Family Member?
Dear Littler: I am a manager at a mid-size company in Florida. An employee just asked for time off so that she can help her sister, who lives with her, deal with issues related to abusive behavior by the sister’s boyfriend. We have a leave policy in compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act, but this does not look like a typical FMLA-covered request. What are our obligations here? We are seeking to expand into Maine, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey, and we want to set the stage for good policy going forward.
Common Mistakes Companies Make with Gig Economy Workers
It is no secret that traditional employers often benefit from non-traditional workplace arrangements available in the gig economy, such as relief from paying unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation plans or being exempt from many minimum wage or overtime laws that apply to the traditional employer-employee relationship. Companies also can save in traditional onboarding, ramp-up, and training costs since temporary gig workers do not require the same training or retention efforts.
Top Five Labor Law Developments for September 2019
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has adopted a new standard for determining whether contractual language acts as a waiver of a union’s right to bargain over a specific issue. MV Transportation, Inc., 368 NLRB No. 66 (Sept. 10, 2019). The
Caution: Ban Ahead – The Rise in Bans on Salary History Inquiries Requires Employer Diligence
A seemingly innocuous interview question is now illegal to ask job applicants in numerous jurisdictions, and the number of jurisdictions implementing similar bans is increasing rapidly.
Eleventh Circuit Ruling May Impact TCPA Class Actions
Last week, the Eleventh Circuit ruled that a single unsolicited text message doesn’t meet the harm requirement necessary to proceed with a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) claim. The Eleventh Circuit ruling, Salcedo v. Hanna, reverses a decision by a lower court allowing the plaintiff to move forward with a TCPA claim on grounds that he received an unsolicited text message from his former attorney.
WPI Wage Watch: Minimum Wage, Tip, and Overtime Developments (August Edition)
Though in August summer is almost over and fall is just about upon us, federal, state, and local developments concerning the minimum wage, tips, and overtime transcend the seasons.
WPI State of the States – Hot Topics During the Summer Cool-Down
Students across the country are heading back to school, but most state legislatures are either in recess or have adjourned for 2019. States that were still in session in August did advance several significant bills, while the action in California is just heating up, and many city councils are still active. Laws addressing discrimination, “wage theft,” and protected leave were the three main themes rounding out the summer. This month’s State of the States discusses new and advancing laws in these and other areas of employment law.