Fredric Leffler
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Continuing a growing national trend, Minnesota, West Virginia, Maryland, Hawaii, Vermont, Michigan, Delaware, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Guam, and the city of Seattle recentlyenacted laws raising the minimum wage in their respective jurisdictions. This client alert highlights key provisions of these new laws and examines the implications for covered employers. Minnesota Minnesota’s minimum wage will gradually … Continue Reading
Rhode Island, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma are the latest states to provide prospective and/or current employees with increased social media protections. Read this special report to learn more about the new laws and the implications for covered employers. In this issue: Rhode Island Louisiana New Hampshire Oklahoma Takeaway Read the full text of the … Continue Reading
On June 19, 2014, both houses of the New York State Legislature passed a bill that would amend the N.Y. Wage Theft Prevention Act of 2010 (the “Act”). The amendments eliminate the annual wage rate notice requirement and increase the penalties for violations of the wage payment laws. It is expected that Governor Cuomo will … Continue Reading
On March 27, 2014, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed a law that is poised to make Connecticut’s minimum wage the highest of any state in the nation by 2017. Employers should read this alert to ensure compliance with the new minimum wage rates once they take effect. Read the full text of this alert.… Continue Reading
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio signed the amended Earned Sick Time Act on Thursday, March 20, 2014. The law takes effect April 1, 2014. The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (“DCA”) has now posted FAQs and template notices on its website. All employers must issue a notice of rights to employees. Please read … Continue Reading
Last week, President Obama directed the U.S. Department of Labor to revise and modernize the “white- collar” overtime exemptions of the Fair Labor Standards Act to extend overtime benefits to a broader range of workers. This alert summarizes the President’s Memorandum, outlines what employers might expect in the coming months, and reminds employers to remain proactive … Continue Reading
As religious discrimination charges have increased steadily, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released a new question-and-answer guide and accompanying fact sheet on religious dress and grooming in the workplace, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to improve employer awareness and compliance. The guide answers sample employers’ questions about how federal employment … Continue Reading
Bills pending in Massachusetts and Vermont mandating paid sick time follow the precedent set by Rhode Island and Connecticut, potentially spreading the requirement through New England. New York and the District of Columbia recently also adopted similar requirements, and paid sick leave bills are pending, or campaigns to require them are under way, in 18 … Continue Reading
Yesterday, the New York City Council passed an amendment to the New York City Earned Sick Time Act (the Act) expanding its coverage in several significant ways as of April 1, 2014. This alert summarizes the amended Act, which requires virtually all New York City employers to provide mandatory paid or unpaid sick leave to … Continue Reading
In Sandifer et al. v. United States Steel Corp., a unanimous Supreme Court clarified the meaning of “changing clothes” found in Section 203(o) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA” or “Act”), holding that “changing clothes” includes putting on (donning) and taking off (doffing) protective gear. Section 203(o) of the FLSA allows employers and unions … Continue Reading
In its recently published opinion in Summers v. Altarum Institute, Corp., No. 13-1645, decided January 23, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit became the first federal appellate court to hold that a sufficiently severe temporary impairment may constitute a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 by applying the … Continue Reading
The most recent amendment to the New York City Human Rights Law takes effect January 30, 2014. Read this alert for a quick review of the steps employers must take to comply with the amended law. Read the full text of this alert.… Continue Reading
The New York City Earned Sick Time Act (the Act) will take effect on April 1, 2014. The Act requires most New York City employers to provide mandatory paid and unpaid sick leave to employees working in New York City, subject to certain minimum coverage requirements. On Friday, January 17, Mayor Bill de Blasio, standing … Continue Reading
On Friday, January 10, 2014, Governor Cuomo signed into law the New York State Commercial Goods Transportation Industry Fair Play Act (the Act), which is effective on March 11, 2014. The Act amends the New York Labor Law to create a presumption that any person performing commercial goods transportation services for a commercial goods … Continue Reading
The New York City Earned Sick Time Act (the Act) has an enabling provision that ties its effective date to a Federal Reserve index measure of the New York City economy on December 16, 2013. That index measure has now been met. Therefore, the Act will take effect on April 1, 2014. Read this alert … Continue Reading
In 2011, President Obama signed the Unemployment Insurance Integrity Act (the “Act”), which largely shifts the responsibility for unemployment insurance integrity to employers. The Act required states to adopt legislation implementing the provisions of the Act by October 21, 2013 and, in many states, employers are just starting to see the impact of the new … Continue Reading
Runway and print models under the age of 18 are now considered “child performers” under an amendment to the New York Labor Law, Art. 4-A, §§ 150-154 signed by Governor Cuomo on October 21, 2013. This amendment is significant because it provides child models the same protections under the labor law as other young entertainers, including child … Continue Reading
Parties now have an opportunity to seek review of unfavorable arbitration awards before an appellate arbitral panel, pursuant to the Optional Appellate Arbitration Rules (Rules), recently released by the American Arbitration Association, effective November 1, 2013. This alert takes a look at the new rules, which describe the process and requirements for parties wishing to … Continue Reading
Last month the six federal agencies that are subject to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 released jointly-proposed standards for assessing the diversity policies and practices of the entities they regulate. This alert provides an analysis of the proposed standards, which were published in the Federal Register on October 25, … Continue Reading
The New York State Court of Appeals’ recent holding in Romanello v. Intesa Sanpaolo, 2013 N.Y. LEXIS 2755; 2013 Slip Op 6600 (N.Y. Oct. 10, 2013), now makes it more difficult for employers covered by the New York City Human Rights Law (Administrative Code of City of NY § 8-107[1][a]) (“NYCHRL”) to terminate employees who … Continue Reading
The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) issued final Wage Deduction regulations, effective October 9, 2013. This alert examines these regulations, which set forth the requirements for making authorized lawful deductions from employee wages under Section 193 of the New York Labor Law (NYLL), plus describe the mandatory requirements for recovering overpayments due to … Continue Reading
On July 11, 2013, the Governor of Rhode Island signed a new bill into law which will expand the state’s temporary disability insurance program to provide wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off to care for a seriously ill family member. This alert examines the provisions of the new law, which takes effect … Continue Reading
The Governor of Oregon recently signed a law to mandate that certain private employers provide employees with bereavement leave. The new law, which is contained in an amendment to Oregon’s existing family leave statute, takes effect January 1, 2014. This alert provides an overview of the new law for employers. Read the full text of this … Continue Reading
A 2012 Advice Memo from the National Labor Relations Board’s General Counsel, which was publicly released two weeks ago in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, addresses a number of hot social media topics affecting the workplace. This alert takes a closer look at the Advice Memo, which concludes that portions of Giant … Continue Reading
Nine More States, One City, and a Territory Increase Minimum Wage
By Allan Bloom, Marc A. Mandelman, Katharine Parker, Fredric Leffler and Allan Weitzman on Posted in Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Special Report: Social Media Roundup
By Allan Weitzman, Daniel Saperstein, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
New York Wage Theft Prevention Act Amendments Awaiting Governor’s Signature
By Amy Melican, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Connecticut Moves Toward Highest Minimum Wage of Any State in the Country
By Carolyn M. Dellatore, Daniel Saperstein, Fredric Leffler and Kelly Anne Targett on Posted in Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Mayor de Blasio Signs New York City Sick Leave Law – Notice of Rights Available
By Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Raising Wages by Tightening the White-Collar Overtime Exemptions–The President’s Initiative
By Tony Oncidi, Allan Weitzman, Carolyn M. Dellatore, Fredric Leffler, Joshua F. Alloy, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
EEOC Issues New Guidance on Religious Garb and Grooming in the Workplace
By Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Massachusetts and Vermont Paid Sick Time
By Allan Weitzman, Marc A. Mandelman, Mark W. Batten, Katharine Parker and Fredric Leffler on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
City Council Expands New York City Earned Sick Time Act
By Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Supreme Court’s Sandifer Decision Is Not Just About Changing Clothes
By Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Jenna Hayes, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
Broad Definition of “Disability” Endorsed By Fourth Circuit
By Allan Weitzman, Carolyn Doppelt Gray, Fredric Leffler, Joshua Stein, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Workplace Policies and Procedures
New York City Pregnancy Accommodation Law Now in Effect
By Daniel Saperstein, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker, Kelly Anne Targett and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
New York City Earned Sick Time Act to Be Expanded
By Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
New York State Takes Aim at Worker Misclassification: The Commercial Goods Transportation Industry Fair Play Act
By Allison Martin, Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Independent Contractor, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
New York City Earned Sick Time Act Takes Effect April 1, 2014
By Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Unemployment Laws Have New Teeth Under the Integrity Act: Are You Ready?
By Fredric Leffler, Noa Baddish and Susan D. Friedfel on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
New York State Amends Labor Law to Protect Child Models
By Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Jeremy M. Mittman, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
AAA Adopts Optional Appellate Arbitration Process
By Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Litigation and Arbitration
Joint Standards Proposed for Assessing Diversity Policies and Practices of Dodd-Frank Covered Entities
By Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
Employer Must Prove Indefinite Leave Is Undue Hardship Under NYCHRL, Says New York’s Highest Court
By Allan Weitzman, Marc A. Mandelman, Katharine Parker, Joshua Stein and Fredric Leffler on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Leaves of Absences, Litigation and Arbitration, Performance Management, Discipline & Termination, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Are You Ready for the Final Wage Deduction Rules?
By Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Rhode Island Laws Extend Paid Benefits to Caregivers
By Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Oregon’s Bereavement Leave Law Is the First of Its Kind
By Allan Weitzman, Fredric Leffler, Katharine Parker and Marc A. Mandelman on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Release of 2012 Advice Memo Pulls Together Principles Applied by the NLRB in Evaluating Employer Social Media Policies
By Allan Weitzman, Scott Faust, Ronald Meisburg, Mark Theodore, Marc A. Mandelman, Michael Lebowich, Katharine Parker, Fredric Leffler and Bernard M. Plum on Posted in Performance Management, Discipline & Termination, Workplace Policies and Procedures
