Harris Mufson
Partner
Harris M. Mufson is a partner in Proskauer’s Labor & Employment Law Department, where he serves as co-head of the Firm’s Whistleblowing & Retaliation Practice Group and the Disability, Accommodation & Leave Management Practice Group. He is highly regarded as a trusted advisor to clients in a wide range of industries regarding significant employment issues. Harris has vast expertise in employment matters, representing employers in disputes regarding discrimination and retaliation, whistleblowing, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, defamation, breach of contract, wage and hour, and restrictive covenants. In addition to litigating, Harris counsels clients on compliance with employment-related laws, as well as the development, implementation and enforcement of personnel policies and procedures. Additionally, he has conducted numerous internal investigations regarding sensitive employment matters.
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In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson, Evandro Gigante, and Allan Bloom discuss key potential employment law changes under the Biden Administration. Tune in as we explore an evolving legal landscape – from new health and safety requirements to wage and hour regulations and expanded anti-discrimination laws. Listen to the podcast. … Continue Reading
As we previously reported, last week President Biden directed the Secretary of Labor to issue revised guidance to employers on workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to that directive, OSHA issued what the DOL described as “stronger” worker safety guidance to advise employers during the COVID-19 pandemic. OSHA’s newest guidance, titled “Protecting Workers: … Continue Reading
Quick Hit On January 21, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order aimed at increasing COVID-19 workplace safety measures at the federal level. As a result, employers should expect new OSHA guidance within the next two weeks and new emergency temporary standards by mid-March. Key Takeaways President Biden’s Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and … Continue Reading
The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), which requires that employers with fewer than 500 employees provide sick and family leave benefits for certain COVID-19 related reasons, is due to sunset on December 31, 2020. Many believed that the FFCRA’s sick and family leave provisions would be extended into 2021 as part of the … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson and Evandro Gigante discuss the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s recent guidance for employers regarding mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. On December 16th, 2020, the EEOC issued updated guidance for employers in light of the FDA’s recent authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. Widespread vaccinations have been largely … Continue Reading
*** UPDATE: After being presented with the bill on Thursday, December 24, President Trump signed it into law on Sunday, December 27. The unemployment provisions take effect upon signing, but because states process unemployment benefit claims on a weekly basis that generally begin each Saturday, benefits under the new law likely will be paid starting … Continue Reading
On December 16, the EEOC issued updated guidance for employers in light of the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) recent authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. Widespread vaccinations are largely perceived as critical in returning all employees to the workplace safely and resuming normal business operations. As such, many employers have been grappling … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson and Guy Brenner discuss the Trump administration’s recent Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, which restricts the concepts that government contractors can include in their employee diversity and awareness training programs. It also imposes certain penalties and sanctions, including debarment for failure to comply. Tune … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partner Harris Mufson and associate Phil Lebel discuss recent legal developments in California, specifically a new supplemental paid sick leave law and coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure notification requirements. Tune in as we discuss steps employers can take to ensure compliance with these new requirements. Listen to the podcast. … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson and Allan Bloom discuss the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed new rule on independent contractor classification. In recent years, the misclassification of workers as independent contractors has been the subject of a number of private lawsuits and investigations by government agencies. This is true for traditional industries and … Continue Reading
On September 8, 2020, the EEOC released an updated technical assistance document addressing COVID-19 and the federal anti-discrimination laws enforced by the agency, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). Our previous posts about the EEOC’s prior COVID-19 guidance are available here and here. The updated guidance includes 18 new questions and answers, most of … Continue Reading
As we have previously reported, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which remains in effect through December 31, 2020, provides, among other things, that eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave if the employee is unable to work (or telework) due to a need for leave to care for their … Continue Reading
On August 8, 2020, the President issued an executive memoranda establishing the Lost Wages Assistance (“LWA”) program, a new unemployment benefit intended to replace the recently-expired $600 per week Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”) payment. As a refresher, the CARES Act created three unemployment benefits programs: (1) Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”), providing benefits for those … Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has now issued its second set of coronavirus-related citations, this time against an Ohio health-care company. OSHA inspected three of the company’s nursing facilities from April to June after the company reported the coronavirus-related hospitalization of seven employees. On July 21, 2020, OSHA announced … Continue Reading
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (“the Act”) into law. Beginning next year (or later for small employers), the Act will require employers in Colorado to provide employees with up to six paid sick days a year – and more if there is a public health … Continue Reading
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published additional frequently asked questions regarding returning to the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday. We reported on OSHA’s earlier posted FAQs here. Though the FAQs do not impose any new legal requirements, employers should be aware of OSHA’s recommendations as workplaces around the country continue to … Continue Reading
On June 18, OSHA issued non-binding guidance to help employers safely reopen non-essential businesses and facilitate their employees’ return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance focuses on employers implementing strategies for five main aspects of the workplace: basic hygiene, social distancing, identification and isolation of sick employees, workplace controls and flexibilities, and employee … Continue Reading
On June 26, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (“WHD”) issued Field Assistance Bulletin (“FAB”) No. 2020-4, providing guidance on when an employee may take leave pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) to care for their child whose summer camp, summer enrichment program, or other summer program is … Continue Reading
As the nation continues to move toward reopening, the EEOC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) issued additional guidance for employers to consider as they plan employees’ return to the workplace. These updates supplement earlier guidance issued by both agencies, which we discuss in our previous posts. EEOC Guidance On June 11, 2020, … Continue Reading
Amid growing criticism of the agency’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Loren E. Sweatt (“Sweatt”), testified before the House Education and Labor Committee’s Workforce Protections Subcommittee last Wednesday during which she defended the agency’s actions to protect worker safety during the pandemic. Below, we discuss the top three takeaways from … Continue Reading
The CDC has issued interim guidance on antibody testing for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19. While the guidance is primarily directed at clinical and public health entities, it does contain some information relevant to employers, educational institutions, and other entities who may be considering whether and to what extent such antibody testing may play … Continue Reading
On May 19, 2020, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) issued a memorandum updating previous guidance regarding employers’ obligation to record cases of COVID-19 in the workplace. On May 26, 2020, the previous guidance will be rescinded and OSHA’s updated guidance will go into effect, the key provisions of which are … Continue Reading
On May 12, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (“HEROES Act”), which, among other things, would significantly expand coverage and benefits available under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”). As we have discussed at length in numerous prior posts, the FFCRA provides for paid … Continue Reading
*** Last Updated: July 17, 2020 *** New York State has issued detailed guidance on Governor Cuomo’s “New York Forward” Plan, under which the State will re-open in four phases on a regional basis. The guidance includes additional information regarding: (1) when regions will be permitted to begin re-opening; (2) which businesses are included in … Continue Reading
[Podcast]: What Can Employers Expect from the Biden Administration?
By Harris Mufson, Evandro Gigante and Allan Bloom on Posted in Biden Administration Coverage, The Proskauer Brief Podcast
OSHA Issues New Workplace Safety Guidance Regarding COVID-19
By Harris Mufson, Lexie Reynolds and Heylee Bernstein on Posted in Biden Administration Coverage, Coronavirus, Workplace Safety
Biden Directs OSHA To Issue New Workplace Safety Guidance Regarding COVID-19
By Harris Mufson and Lexie Reynolds on Posted in Biden Administration Coverage, Coronavirus, Workplace Safety
Congress Extends FFCRA Tax Credit into 2021, Declines to Extend FFCRA Leave
By Evandro Gigante, Harris Mufson, Alex Downie and Abigail Rosenblum on Posted in Coronavirus, Leaves of Absences
[Podcast]: Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations
By Harris Mufson and Evandro Gigante on Posted in Coronavirus, Workplace Policies and Procedures, Workplace Safety
Congress Seeks to Extend Many CARES Act Unemployment Benefits in Pandemic Relief Package
By Evandro Gigante, Harris Mufson, Allison Martin and Jacob P. Tucker on Posted in Coronavirus
EEOC Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccines
[Podcast]: OFCCP Opens Hotline for Complaints of Race and Sex Stereotyping in Workplace Training
[Podcast]: Recent Developments on California’s COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Law
By Harris Mufson and Philippe A. Lebel on Posted in Coronavirus, Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
[Podcast]: DOL’s Proposed Rule on Independent Contractors
By Harris Mufson and Allan Bloom on Posted in Independent Contractor, The Proskauer Brief Podcast, Wage and Hour
EEOC Updates Its COVID-19 Guidance (Again)
By Evandro Gigante, Guy Brenner, Harris Mufson, Laura Fant and Alex Downie on Posted in Coronavirus, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Intersection Between Return-to-School and FFCRA
Department of Labor Releases Guidance on Lost Wages Assistance Program
By Harris Mufson and Jacob P. Tucker on Posted in Coronavirus
OSHA Issues Second Set of Coronavirus-Related Citations
By Harris Mufson and Lexie Reynolds on Posted in Coronavirus, Workplace Safety
Colorado Governor Signs Paid Sick Leave Act into Law
By Harris Mufson, Evandro Gigante, Laura Fant and Abigail Rosenblum on Posted in Coronavirus, Leaves of Absences
OSHA Releases Additional FAQs Regarding Returning to the Workplace: What Employers Need to Know
By Harris Mufson, Lexie Reynolds and Heylee Bernstein on Posted in Coronavirus, Workplace Safety
OSHA Releases Guidance on Reopening Workplaces
By Harris Mufson, Lexie Reynolds and Heylee Bernstein on Posted in Coronavirus, Workplace Safety
Department of Labor Issues Bulletin on FFCRA Leave in Light of Summer Camp and Program Closures
By Harris Mufson, Laura Fant and Rachel Therese Gulotta on Posted in Coronavirus, Leaves of Absences
EEOC and OSHA Issue New COVID-19 Guidance
By Harris Mufson and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Coronavirus
Top Three Takeaways from OSHA Chief’s Testimony Regarding OSHA Enforcement During the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Harris Mufson, Alex Downie and Lexie Reynolds on Posted in Coronavirus, Workplace Safety
CDC Issues Guidance Warning Against Use of Antibody Testing in Making Decisions Regarding Returning Employees to the Workplace
By Harris Mufson, Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Coronavirus
OSHA Updates Guidance Regarding COVID-19 Recordkeeping Requirements
By Harris Mufson, Arielle E. Kobetz, Caroline Guensberg and Scott Tan on Posted in Coronavirus, Workplace Safety
Latest Proposed Coronavirus Relief Bill Would Significantly Expand Employee Leave Benefits Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
By Harris Mufson, Evandro Gigante and Laura Fant on Posted in Coronavirus, Leaves of Absences
New York State Issues Guidance for Re-Opening of Businesses
By Evandro Gigante, Harris Mufson, Arielle E. Kobetz and Alex Downie on Posted in Coronavirus
