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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On April 3, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the fiscal year 2021 New York State budget, which, notably for employers, includes a new statewide paid sick leave requirement. As described below, the new leave provisions, which amend the NY Labor Law, will require New York employers of all sizes to provide … Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently published two additional Unemployment Insurance Program Letters (UIPLs) providing guidance on the administration of the expanded unemployment insurance benefits under the CARES Act. The following summarizes the key points of these UIPLs. UIPL No. 15-20 addresses the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) provision of the CARES Act, under … Continue Reading
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The $2.2 trillion package included various provisions increasing and expanding unemployment insurance benefits available to workers, including individuals who are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work due to COVID-19. How does the CARES Act increase … Continue Reading
On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The CARES Act is a $2.2 trillion stimulus package aimed at offering economic relief to individuals, businesses, industries, and state and local governments during the Coronavirus pandemic. The following is a summary of the key … Continue Reading
On March 27, 2020, the EEOC posted a pre-recorded webinar in which the agency answered questions related to the impact of COVID-19 on the laws that the agency enforces. At the outset, the EEOC issued a disclaimer that guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) and state or local public health authorities should not … Continue Reading
On March 25, 2020, New York State published Frequently Asked Questions and other guidance regarding the state’s recently enacted Covid-19 Paid Sick Leave Law and expansions to New York’s Paid Family Leave Law (PFL) and Disability Benefit Law. This bill was signed into law on March 18 and became effective immediately as part of a … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson, Seth Safra, Mike Lebowich and Guy Brenner discuss recent developments associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Tune in as we address the latest legislative developments and issues employers should be thinking about when confronting the ramifications of this virus in the workplace. Listen to the podcast. … Continue Reading
*** New York State has issued additional guidance on the statewide Coronavirus leave law. More information about this guidance can be found on our blog post here. *** On March 18, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a statewide Coronavirus response bill that immediately provides employees with sick leave and job protection in … Continue Reading
**Updated March 12, 2020** Declaration of Coronavirus Pandemic by the World Health Organization On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (also referred to as COVID-19, but more commonly known simply as the “Coronavirus”), which has spread to over 100 countries and territories. The WHO … Continue Reading
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (the “Department”) has issued its final regulations regarding the state’s Paid Sick Leave Act (the “Act”), which took effect on October 29, 2018. The Department also published its responses to over one hundred comments submitted by members of the public regarding the proposed regulations. As we … Continue Reading
Following a prolonged legal challenge brought by a group of Pittsburgh businesses, Pittsburgh’s paid sick leave ordinance will finally take effect on March 15, 2020. As we previously reported, in August 2015, the City of Pittsburgh passed the Paid Sick Days Act (the “Act”) which would have required most employers to provide their employees with … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson and Guy Brenner discuss the coronavirus and what employers should be thinking about regarding that virus in the workplace. While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has stated that most American workers are not at significant risk of infection at this time, it’s never too early for employers to … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson and Evandro Gigante discuss considerations and best practices associated with reductions in force. Companies that make a business decision to reduce its staffing should consider what goals they are looking to achieve. Is it cost reduction or a consolidation of positions? Or is it to weed out lower performing employees? … Continue Reading
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law the Create a Respectful and Open Workspace for Natural Hair (“CROWN”) Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants or employees based upon hairstyle. Effective immediately, the CROWN Act amends the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination to define “race” as inclusive of “traits historically associated with race” … Continue Reading
Heeding the adage “no one knows what the future may hold,” the Seventh, Eighth and Eleventh Circuits have uniformly refused to extend protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to employees with a perceived risk of a potential impairment. In each case, an employer either declined to hire an applicant or terminated an employee … Continue Reading
As we previously reported, Connecticut has enacted the Time’s Up Act (the “Act”), which expanded existing sexual harassment training and notice requirements on employers. Under the new law, employers with three or more employees must provide two hours of interactive sexual harassment training to all existing employees by October 1, 2020, and to all new … Continue Reading
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont recently signed into law the Time’s Up Act (the “Act”), which amends existing state law to impose greater sexual harassment training and notice requirements on employers. Training Requirements Currently, Connecticut law requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide two hours of sexual harassment training to all supervisory employees. While … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson and Evandro Gigante discuss recently passed legislation by the New York City Council, which would prohibit some employers in NYC from requiring job applicants to submit to drug tests for marijuana use. Specifically, the bill would amend the City’s Fair Chance Act to make it … Continue Reading
As we previously reported, Westchester County, NY recently enacted an Earned Sick Leave Law (the “ESSL”), which provides eligible employees with up to 40 hours of paid leave for their own medical needs, those of a family member, or other covered reasons. The Westchester County Human Rights Commission has established a dedicated webpage regarding the … Continue Reading
Effective immediately, the New York Election Law has been amended to provide employees in New York with up to three hours of paid time off to vote in any election. Passed as part of the annual New York State budget, the new law amends section 3-110 of the Election Law to allow employees to request … Continue Reading
On March 26 – 28, 2019, Harris Mufson, Danielle Moss, and Samantha Regenbogen attended the second annual HR Transform conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Proskauer was the exclusive legal sponsor of the conference. The HR Transform conference brought together business leaders and HR executives to discuss cutting edge issues regarding human resources and employee workplace … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partner Harris Mufson and associate Arielle Kobetz discuss the New York City Commission on Human Rights (NYCCHR) enforcement guidance on appearance and grooming policies that ban or restrict naturally curly hair, dreadlocks, braids, cornrows and other hairstyles. While the guidance, which was issued on February 19, 2019, specifically details protections for Black people … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson and Guy Brenner discuss the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Harris and Guy highlight OFCCP’s recent activities and discuss what government contactors should expect in 2019, so be sure to tune in. Listen to the podcast.… Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson and Howard Robbins continue their “Can My Employees Do That?” series. In this installment, Harris and Howard discuss the legal requirements regarding service animals in the workplace and provide practical advice for employers to address requests by employees to bring service animals to work. Please … Continue Reading
New York Enacts Statewide Paid Sick Leave Law as Part of FY 2021 Budget
By Harris Mufson, Laura Fant and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
U.S. DOL Issues Additional Guidance on CARES Act Unemployment Programs
By Evandro Gigante, Harris Mufson, Allison Martin and Jacob P. Tucker on Posted in Coronavirus
CARES Act Expands Unemployment Insurance Benefits
By Evandro Gigante, Harris Mufson, Allison Martin and Jacob P. Tucker on Posted in Coronavirus
Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Signed into Law
By Harris Mufson, Evandro Gigante, Rachel Therese Gulotta and Meika Freeman on Posted in Coronavirus
EEOC Answers Employers’ COVID-19-Related Questions
By Harris Mufson, Caroline Guensberg and Alex Downie on Posted in Coronavirus
New York State Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Quarantine Leave Law
[Podcast]: Recent Developments Associated With The Coronavirus Pandemic
New York State Enacts Coronavirus Response Bill Including Paid Sick Time and Other Statutory Benefits
Coronavirus Concerns Grow As World Health Organization Declares Pandemic
Final Regulations Issued for New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act
By Harris Mufson, Arielle E. Kobetz and Alex Downie on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Pittsburgh Paid Sick Leave Ordinance To Take Effect March 15, 2020
By Harris Mufson and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
[Podcast]: How Employers Can Deal with the Coronavirus
[Podcast]: Reductions in Force
By Harris Mufson and Evandro Gigante on Posted in The Proskauer Brief Podcast, Workplace Restructuring and WARN
New Jersey Becomes the Third State to Prohibit Hairstyle Discrimination
Emerging Trend: ADA Does Not Cover Potential Future Disabilities
Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities Issues Guidance on Sexual Harassment Training and Notice Requirements
By Harris Mufson and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Connecticut Expands Sexual Harassment Training and Notice Requirements
By Harris Mufson, Arielle E. Kobetz and Tony S. Martinez on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
[Podcast]: Medical Marijuana and the Potential NYC New Law
Westchester County Issues Guidance on its Earned Sick Leave Law
By Harris Mufson and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Voting Pays: New York Employees Now Eligible for Paid Voting Leave
By Harris Mufson and Arielle E. Kobetz on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
Proskauer Unveils Employment Law Toolkit and Hosts #Metoo Panel at HR Transform
[Podcast]: The NYCCHR Issues New Enforcement Guidance on Appearance & Grooming Policies
[Podcast]: What Government Contractors Should Expect in 2019
By Harris Mufson and Guy Brenner on Posted in The Proskauer Brief Podcast
[Podcast]: Can My Employees Bring Animals To Work?
By Harris Mufson and Howard Z. Robbins on Posted in The Proskauer Brief Podcast, Workplace Policies and Procedures
