The Maine Supreme Court began hearings last week to determine whether medical marijuana treatment should be considered reimbursable under a workers’ compensation claim. Although Maine instituted its medical marijuana program in 1999, this is the first time the superior court has addressed how the law interacts with the state‘s workers’ compensation law. Medical marijuana is Read more
Each September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launches the National Preparedness Month campaign. The goal of the campaign is to increase the number of individuals, families, and communities that engage in preparedness for emergencies at home, work, business, school, and place of worship. In the last few weeks, we have seen how devastating natural Read more
Continuing the trend of modernization we’ve seen recently from federal agencies, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has decided to take advantage of the interactivity that the use of online forms makes possible. The agency’s online whistleblower complaint form has been revised to ensure that individuals issuing complaints are aware of their rights and Read more
Nearly a year after a Department of Labor (DOL) Final Rule intended to raise the salary threshold for overtime-exempt status was put on hold before it could go into effect, a federal court has struck the exponential increase down for good. Stating that that the DOL had “gone too far,” the U.S. District Court for Read more
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently released a redesigned E-Verify Participation Poster. The poster informs current and prospective employees of their legal rights, responsibilities, and protections in the employment eligibility verification process. The new redesigned poster is now available in English and Spanish as one poster. It includes new text that helps clarify Read more
Employers can soon expect more descriptive guidance from the US Department of Labor (DOL). The agency has decided to bring back the “Opinion Letter,” a form of fact-specific guidance which it stopped issuing in 2010. An Opinion Letter is an official, written opinion of how a particular law, usually the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Read more
During the 2017 legislative session, Texas passed a new handgun law that became effective today, September 1st. Under the new law, volunteer emergency services personnel with a license to carry a handgun will be allowed to carry a handgun while on duty. A volunteer emergency services personnel includes a volunteer firefighter, an emergency medical services Read more
On August 29, 2017, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum calling for a review and immediate stay on the effectiveness of new EEO-1 data submission requirements. These requirements, finalized in September of 2016, called for revisions to the EEO-1 compliance survey which collects information on race, ethnicity, and gender distribution within Read more
Benefits of Providing Lactation Accommodation in the Workplace It is well-established that breastfeeding promotes the health and well-being of working mothers and their babies. Breastfed babies and their mothers have reduced risks for many illnesses and diseases. Healthier babies and moms mean a lower health care burden on the national economy. In fact, one study Read more
Starting November 19, 2017, employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations in New York City will be prohibited from discriminating against any person on the basis of his or her uniformed service. New York City Mayor de Blasio has recently signed Bill Int. No. 1259 to amend the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) adding Read more
