Latest Publications

Share:

As Predicted, Judge Strikes Down FTC’s Noncompete Rule

As we predicted in our May 1, 2024 Client Alert, the Federal Trade Commission’s Noncompete Rule (the “Rule”) has been struck down on a nationwide basis. On August 20, 2024, U.S. District Judge Ada Brown of the Northern...more

Massachusetts Job Postings to Include Pay Ranges Starting Summer 2025

Massachusetts will be joining the growing number of states requiring pay ranges be included in advertisements and provided in certain other circumstances....more

Rhode Island Legislative Update

It is that time of year again, when the Rhode Island legislature ends its session and passes a number of laws that affect businesses with Rhode Island-based employees.  2024 was no different. Though in some ways this year was...more

FTC Issues Clumsy, Overbroad Noncompete Rule. Luckily, It Probably Will Fail.

On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a final rule (the “Rule”) which bans businesses from using most noncompete agreements against workers....more

DOL Increases to Exempt Employee Salary Requirements will Impact Employers Regardless of Legal Challenges

On April 23, 2024, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced a final rule (the “Rule”) increasing the salary threshold employers must pay to most exempt workers. Given the anticipated litigation over the Rule and the...more

U.S. DOL Issues New Rule on Independent Contractor Classification, Returning to More Employee-Friendly Analysis

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a new rule (the “New Rule”) on January 9, 2024, defining “independent contractor” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  Effective March 11, 2024, the rule returns to a...more

New Year, New Policy Updates 2024

Have you updated your policies for 2024 yet? If not, chances are you are violating the law. Here are some recent changes all employers should consider: NLRA DISCLAIMERS. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was busy...more

Significant Change to Massachusetts PFML

Recent amendments to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law now allow employees to use accrued paid leave, such as sick time, vacation time and personal days, to supplement PFML benefits at any time during...more

Rhode Island Legislative Update

It is that time of year again, when the Rhode Island legislature ends its session and passes a number of laws that affect businesses with Rhode Island based employees. 2023 was no different. Following is a short summary of...more

Supreme Court Clears the Way for an Influx of Religious Accommodation Requests

As is tradition, the United States Supreme Court likes to save its blockbuster opinions until the end of the term. Such is the case with the June 28 ruling in Groff v. Dejoy, where the Court, while indicating that it was...more

Employers Will Face More Pregnancy Accommodation Requests Under New Federal Law

The new Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”), effective June 27, 2023, purports to expand current federal protections by requiring certain employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” to a worker’s known...more

Massachusetts Employer Forced to Pay $24 Million for Failing to Accommodate an Executive’s Anxiety

Mental health issues in the workplace are at an all-time high. And with those issues come a slew of accommodation requests ranging from continued work from home to removal of stressful job duties to not appearing on camera...more

NLRB Prohibits the Use of Confidentiality and Non-disparagement Provisions in Severance Agreements

On February 21, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (“Board”) ruled that an employer violated its employees’ rights under federal law by offering severance agreements that included standard confidentiality and...more

Rhode Island Pay Equity - Here's The Notice That Must Be Posted by January 1

We have previously provided information on the new Rhode Island Pay Equity law, which goes into effect on January 1, 2023, available here: RIDLT Proposes Regulations and Issues Compliance Guidance for the New Pay Equity Law...more

Blitz for 6: Rhode Island TCI Benefits to Increase to a Maximum of Six Weeks Beginning January 1, 2023

With the new year just a handful of weeks away, employers should take note of one notable change to the Rhode Island Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program (“TCI”) taking effect in 2023. Beginning January 1, 2023, the maximum...more

The NLRB is Back at it Again: New Proposal Broadens Definition of "Joint Employer"

On September 7, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB”) published a proposed rule (“Proposed Rule”) rescinding and replacing its current rule for determining joint-employer status under the National Labor Relations...more

Rhode Island Employers can No Longer Discipline Employees for Out-of-Work Recreational Weed Use

Pursuant to the new law legalizing recreational marijuana in Rhode Island, private employers are now prohibited from firing or taking other disciplinary action against an employee for recreational marijuana use outside the...more

RIDLT Proposes Regulations and Issues Compliance Guidance for the New Pay Equity Law

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training’s (“RIDLT”) much anticipated Proposed Regulations (“Regulations”) to the Rhode Island Pay Equity Law (the “Act”) have arrived. As we previously discussed, on July 6, 2021,...more

Massachusetts Wage Update: SJC Overturns Years Of Precedent And Finds That Employers Must Automatically Pay Triple Damages If...

It is well known that if a Massachusetts employer terminates an employee, the employer risks being liable for three times the amount of wages owed if payment is not made on the last day of employment. A lesser known corollary...more

Massachusetts SJC Holds that Independent Contractor Statute Applies to Franchisees

On March 24, 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) determined that the Massachusetts independent contractor statute (G. L. c. 149, § 148B) applies within the franchisor-franchisee context and does not...more

Congress Moving Forward To Limit Employers' Right to Arbitrate Sexual Harassment Claims – A Slippery Slope

The Value of Arbitration Clauses - It is not uncommon for employers to require that all employment related disputes with employees be resolved by binding arbitration and not in court. Advantages of arbitration can...more

Supreme Court Rescues Large Employers from the OSHA ETS Vaccine Mandate

Employers with 100 or more employees can breathe a sigh of relief as the United States Supreme Court has come to the rescue and blocked the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) put in place by OSHA. How Did We Get Here?...more

Updates to the Massachusetts Minimum Wage and PFML Coming in 2022

Minimum Wage Increase - As set forth by legislation passed in 2018, the minimum wage in Massachusetts will increase to $14.25 per hour on January 1, 2022. This amounts to a 75-cent jump from the current minimum wage of...more

Federal COVID Action Plan Announced

On September 9th, the President announced a COVID-19 Action Plan (the "Plan") and released two orders that contain surprisingly broad measures. The Plan will impact many businesses and organizations across the nation....more

United States Supreme Court Limits An Employer's Ability to Protect Trade Secrets Through Violations of the Computer Fraud and...

A recent United States Supreme Court decision has limited the claims that an employer could assert against departing employees who steal trade secrets and confidential information from the employer’s computer...more

83 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 4

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide