Labor Law Updates

Keeping you current on the ever changing labor laws

What is GINA?Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which took effect November 21, 2009, prohibits the use of genetic information in making employment decisions, restricts employers from requesting, requiring or purchasing genetic information, and strictly limits the disclosure of genetic information. Title II applies to private and state and local government employers Read more

Federal Form 3 “Notice to Employees” Required for Radiological Working ConditionsNRC Form 3, ‘Notice to Employees” (CPC Poster #74216) is the mandatory federal radiation notice that must be posted in facilities licensed or regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). In addition, state facilities and activities that possess a license from the applicable state Read more

The New York State Department of Labor Launches Green Survey, Mailers Sent Out The New York State Department of Labor has sent out surveys in the mail to estimate the number of green jobs in the state and determine the skills workers need in order to accomplish these jobs. This research project was made possible Read more

OSHA Extends Comment Period and Announces Stakeholder Meeting on Noise Control Interpretation The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced there will be an extension for the official comment period on the proposed interpretation titled “Interpretation of OSHA’s Provisions for Feasible Administrative or Engineering Controls of Occupational Noise.” The official extension is 90 days, so Read more

3 Important Illinois Employment-related Changes Effective 1/1/2011: Children & Grandparents Now Eligible for Family Military LeaveEffective January 1, 2011, employees who are the child or grandparent of a person called into active military service are entitled to the same leave previously provided to spouses and parents under the Family Military Leave Act. Under the expanded Read more

The Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards in Fiscal Year 2010 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released the top 10 most frequently cited standards in the fiscal year 2010, October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010. The list is as follows: Scaffolding, general requirements (Construction) Fall protection (Construction) Hazard communication standard (General Industry) Read more

California State-OSHA Plan First to Have Diacetyl Standard Cal/OSHA has implemented a new standard to further protect workers in the state. The Diacetyl Standard, the first of its kind, requires employers covered by the standard to take special precautions to ensure worker safety. Employers are required to do the following: Create a regulated area for Read more

New York Employees, Contractors and Subcontractors are Covered by the Construction Industry Fair Play Act It is against the law for New York employers to misclassify employees as independent contractors or pay employees off-the-books under the new Construction Industry Fair Play Act. Studies were conducted showing that approximately 15 to 25 percent of construction workers Read more

Domestic Workers and Their Employers Have Rights and Responsibilities Under the New York Labor Law The New York Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights represents progressive landmark legislation. It affords specified domestic workers in New York fundamental labor law protections that were previously only granted to other employees. In signing the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights Read more

West Virginia Workers are Now Eligible for Unemployment Compensation using Alternative Base Period Wages West Virginia’s Unemployment Benefits poster has been updated as a result of legislation passed in May, 2009 (WV SB 246) which amended West Virginia’s Unemployment Compensation Law. The terms “alternative base period” and “alternative base period wages’” were added to the Read more