Partners Sid Lewis, Jane Heidingsfelder, Jason Culotta, and Alex Glaser co-authored the “Louisiana: Trends and Developments” section for the US Regional Employment 2022 Global Practice Guide, released by Chambers & Partners. In this section, they provided an overview of the latest labor union trends, offered insights to employers on defending against union organizing, and outlined key standards and developments from the Occupational Safety and Health Administation (OSHA). The attorneys discussed Louisiana state laws and regulations regarding medical marijuana in the workplace and summarized the key features of the recently passed Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 (SECURE Act 2.0).
Articles Discussing General Topics In Louisiana Labor & Employment Law.
Considerations for Louisiana Employers Post-Dobbs: Employment Discrimination Concerns and Leave of Absence Issues
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade, holding that the U.S. Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion, and returning the authority to regulate abortion to individual states. Louisiana was
Louisiana Governor Signs Legislation to Mitigate Workplace Violence Against Healthcare Workers Into Law
The 2022 Louisiana legislative session included two bills focusing on workplace violence in the healthcare industry—Act No. 461 and Act No. 129—that Governor John Bel Edwards signed into law earlier this summer.
New Louisiana Laws on Hair Discrimination and Wage Garnishment Take Effect on August 1, 2022
The 2022 regular session of the Louisiana Legislature was a busy one, although there were only two new notable employment laws.
Louisiana Becomes First Deep South State To Pass CROWN Act
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards recently signed Louisiana’s version of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act into law. It was approved by the Louisiana Legislature in its recently concluded session. In doing so, Louisiana joins 16 other states and becomes the first in the Deep South to enact the CROWN Act or legislation inspired by the CROWN Act.
Louisiana Joins Growing List of States Prohibiting Hairstyle Discrimination
On June 21, 2022, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed into law legislation prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of hairstyles or textures historically associated with race.
New Orleans Revives Mask Mandate, Effective January 12, 2022
New Orleans has revived its mask mandate for indoor spaces, effective January 12, 2022. Citing increased COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates, Mayor Latoya Cantrell has ordered that all individuals over the age of two who do not have breathing complications must wear masks “when in indoor spaces outside the household,
Louisiana Employers May Be Able to Discharge Unvaccinated Workers Under Employment-at-Will Doctrine
In a pair of related rulings in Hayes v. University Health Shreveport, LLC, and Nelson v. Ochsner Lafayette General, the Supreme Court of Louisiana held on January 7, 2022, that private Louisiana employers may mandate COVID-19 vaccines for their employees.
Louisiana Federal Court Follows Other Federal Courts Enjoining Vaccine Mandates for Government Contractors
On November 4, 2021, three states, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Indiana, filed suit against the federal government seeking to invalidate President Biden’s September 9, 2021, executive order requiring government contractors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 18, 2022. On December 15, 2021, Judge Drell of the Western District of Louisiana granted the plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction, stopping the vaccine mandate from going into effect in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Indiana. This Louisiana federal court order follows similar orders previously issued by federal courts in Georgia and Kentucky.
Louisiana Workforce Commission Publishes Posters on Expanded Employee Pregnancy Accommodation Rights
Effective August 1, 2021, the Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law was amended to expressly require Louisiana employers with more than 25 employees to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with limitations arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, provided that such limitations are known to the employers.
Louisiana and New Orleans Lift Their Mask Mandates, Except for Students Subject to Opt-Out Procedures
Mask mandates, with certain exceptions, are ending in Louisiana. This week, Louisiana’s governor lifted the statewide mandate, which allowed cities to impose their own mandates. New Orleans’ mandate, which has been in effect since July 2021, is also now ending.
Louisiana and Orleans Lift Their Mask Mandates, Except for Students Subject to Opt-Out Procedures
Mask mandates, with certain exceptions, are ending in Louisiana. This week, Louisiana’s governor lifted the statewide mandate, which allowed cities to impose their own mandates. New Orleans’ mandate, which has been in effect since July 2021, is also now ending.
Louisiana Expands Liability for Perpetrators of Sexual Assault in the Workplace
On June 10, 2021, the Louisiana State Legislature passed House Bill (HB) No. 379, a measure that provides for civil liability for injuries caused to individuals who have experienced sexual assault in the workplace, as defined by criminal statutes.
Kogos, Spell, Glaser, and Pritt Published in Chambers USA “US Regional Employment 2021: Louisiana” Global Practice Guide
Labor and employment partners Jennifer Kogos and Maggie Spell, Alex Glaser, a partner in the Tax Practice Group, and Jacob Pritt, an associate in the Labor & Employment Practice Group recently authored the section, “US Regional Employment 2021: Louisiana” in the USA Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guide.
Power Restored in Louisiana Following Hurricane Ida: Now What?
Weeks after Hurricane Ida tore through the region, damaging thousands of businesses and flattening the power grid, the power was mostly restored in New Orleans by September 10, but countless businesses throughout southeast Louisiana are still without power.
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