This year has been challenging for a number of reasons, not least of which is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workplace. After months of isolation and remote operations, many employers and employees are eagerly looking forward to opportunities during the approaching holiday season to come together (in
Articles Discussing Human Resources And Other Workplace Topics.
Corporate America’s Diversity Goals Under Scrutiny
Many major corporations have issued public statements of commitment to aggressively increase representation of African Americans in the workforce, particularly at the leadership and management levels. In response, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which is responsible for regulating and enforcing federal contractors’ non-discrimination and affirmative action obligations, has notified several of those companies of its concern that their commitments portend use of race-based selection processes.
Is It Time for a Reset for Remote Work? Reimagining the Virtual Workplace 2.0 for Manufacturers
Many manufacturing companies are beginning to envision what the workplace will look like in the near future. While some manufacturing work cannot be done remotely because it is impossible or impractical, many companies were able to shift certain types of work to the virtual workplace in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to limit the number of employees within their manufacturing facilities.
Federal Agencies Warn Health Care and Public Health Sector of Ransomware Threat
As hospitals and healthcare providers/systems (collectively, “Healthcare Providers”) across the nation have been reacting to spiking COVID-19 cases, an increased, imminent cybercrime threat targeting Healthcare Providers has emerged—ransomware. Ransomware is a distinct type of malware (malicious software) that attempts to deny victims access to their data until a ransom is paid.
COLAs in the Time of COVID-19
On October 26, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updated various dollar limitations that apply to tax-qualified retirement plans for 2021. The new amounts, published in Notice 2020-79, are annually adjusted for cost of living.
Federal Agencies Issue Joint Alert on Imminent Cybercrime Threat to Healthcare Providers
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have issued a joint cybersecurity advisory stating they have credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers.
The advisory describes
Time to Vote: Employee and Employer Voting Leave Rights and Obligations for the 2020 Elections
Elections in the United States are scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Not only will the office of president of the United States be contested, but all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate are up for grabs. At
How employers can ensure federal law compliance by following updated EEOC guidance on COVID-19 screening and testing protocols
As workplaces in North Carolina and South Carolina are opening back up, employers should make sure they are up to date on their rights and obligations to test or otherwise screen their employees for COVID-19 under the federal anti-discrimination laws governing the workplace.
Workplace Violence Prevention Strategies in a Time of Political and Social Unrest
Tensions appear to be running hot across the nation during this polarized election season and time of political and social unrest.
Political Discussions in the Workplace
As Election Day nears, employers across the country may be wondering how they can properly address political discussions in the workplace. This article provides employers simple and straightforward strategies for managing potentially tense workplace discussions.
Executive Order Bans Certain Diversity Trainings for Federal Contractors — May Also Impact Private Employers
On September 22, the president issued an Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, which prohibits certain types of diversity trainings for federal employees and federal contractors. The Order prohibits federal contractors from using “any workplace training that inculcates in its employees any form of race or sex stereotyping or any form of race or sex scapegoating.” The prohibition on these types of training applies to any training that would ascribe “character traits, values, moral and ethical codes, privileges, status, or beliefs to a race or sex.”
Hacked Healthcare Provider Refuses to Pay Ransom, Attackers Target Psychotherapy Patients
Earlier this year, we reported on an evolution in the form of cyberattack known as ransomware –attackers transitioning from denying affected users access to critical data by encrypting it to removing data from the compromised systems and threatening public release in exchange for payment. These attacks typically target the companies
Demystifying President Trump's Executive Order on Diversity Training
Littler’s David Goldstein and James Paretti join Alyesha Asghar Dotson to talk about President Trump’s Executive Order, “Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping,” which curbs the discussion of certain topics from diversity and inclusion training provided by federal contractors and grantees.
Surgical Masks, Respirators, and More: Employers Grapple with Personal Protective Equipment Requirements Amid Constantly Evolving COVID-19 Guidance and Laws
Eight months into the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic and employers in both healthcare and non-healthcare settings are grappling with requirements for employees’ use of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) and respiratory protection. Rather than clarify the requirements, continually evolving guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), Occupational Health and
CDC Refines “Close Contact” Guidelines
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has refined its guidelines regarding what is considered a “close contact” exposure to COVID-19.