On Thursday, the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) issued its long-awaited emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring employers with 100 or more employees to mandate vaccinations or weekly testing...more
11/8/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Rules ,
OSHA ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
On Thursday night, October 28, 2021, the Illinois General Assembly passed House Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 1169, which amends the Health Care Right to Conscience Act (HCRCA) to allow employers the right to “take any...more
On September 9, 2021, President Biden announced a major initiative entitled the “Path out of the Pandemic.” The initiative includes an executive order requiring vaccinations for nearly all federal employees and contractors...more
9/14/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Essential Workers ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Big change is here. Governor Pritzker signed the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act, meaning effective today, Illinois student-athletes at both public and private universities, no matter the sport or division, have the...more
In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a decision issued on June 23, 2021 struck down a California state law requiring agricultural employers to grant union organizers access to their property. The Court determined the...more
6/30/2021
/ Agricultural Workers ,
Cedar Point Nursery v Hassid ,
Farm Workers ,
Farms ,
Fifth Amendment ,
Fourteenth Amendment ,
Just Compensation ,
SCOTUS ,
Takings Clause ,
Unions ,
United Farm Workers
Student-athletes are gaining headway in their fight for additional compensation in exchange for the benefit they provide to the NCAA and its membership institutions. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a...more
Recently, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation significantly amending the Illinois Freedom to Work Act, which governs the legality and enforceability of non-compete agreements and other post-employment restrictive...more
In the final week of first 100 days of, the Biden administration, significant labor and employment activity includes a Department of Labor (“DOL”) official and two judicial nominations sent to the Senate, a push from the DOL...more
4/29/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
Minimum Wage ,
NLRB ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Strategic Enforcement Plan ,
Unions ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage and Hour
In new guidance, the IRS confirms that non-federal government employers may now be able to claim a tax credit to cover the cost of voluntarily providing paid sick and family leave to employees for COVID-19 related reasons....more
4/26/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
IRS ,
Paid Sick Leave ,
Public Employers ,
Relief Measures ,
Tax Credits ,
Tax Planning
In week thirteen, the Biden administration’s labor and employment activity includes the nomination for the Assistant Secretary of Disability and Employment Policy at the Department of Labor (DOL); the Senate committee vote on...more
4/20/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
Collective Bargaining ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Minimum Wage ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Small Business ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
In week twelve, the Biden administration’s labor and employment activity includes selecting a chief to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), increased staffing at the Equal Employment Opportunity...more
4/13/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Labor Reform ,
OSHA ,
Wage and Hour
In week eleven, the Biden administration’s labor and employment activity includes the introduction of the American Jobs Plan, the extension of the Paycheck Protection Program, employment policy changes at the Department of...more
4/6/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
CARES Act ,
Corporate Taxes ,
Defense Sector ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
GILTI tax ,
Job Creation ,
Labor Reform ,
LGBTQ ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Tax Reform ,
Transgender
In week ten, the Biden administration’s labor and employment activity includes the Senate confirmation of Marty Walsh as Labor Secretary, the nomination of former CEO of the Democratic National Committee to the Solicitor of...more
Each week during the first 100 days of the new administration, we will provide a recap of significant initiatives and events that will impact employers.
In week nine, the Biden administration’s labor and employment...more
3/23/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Enforcement Authority ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
OSHA ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
In week eight, the Administration’s labor and employment activity includes the passage of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, the House’s passage of the PRO Act labor law reform bill, and the upcoming Senate confirmation...more
3/15/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Labor Reform ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Relief Measures ,
Sick Leave ,
Sick Pay ,
Tax Credits ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
In week six, the Administration’s labor and employment activity includes a major roadblock to the $15 federal minimum wage increase, an extension of unemployment benefits by the DOL, and unexpected silence by the...more
3/1/2021
/ Amazon Marketplace ,
Biden Administration ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
Minimum Wage ,
Unemployment Insurance ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
In week five, the Administration’s labor and employment activity includes a new NLRB General Counsel appointee, an executive order revoking Trump’s industry-led apprenticeship program, the DOL’s continual withdrawal of Trump...more
2/22/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Apprenticeships ,
Biden Administration ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Gig Economy ,
Independent Contractors ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
NLRB General Counsel ,
Wage and Hour
In week four, the Administration’s labor and employment activity includes further reversal of Trump era initiatives at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), including a move to protect “Scabby the Rat”, the nomination of...more
2/15/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
Minimum Wage ,
NLRA ,
NLRB ,
NLRB General Counsel ,
Unemployment Insurance ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
In week two, the Biden administration shook things up at the National Labor Relations Board with the firing and replacement of General Counsel Peter Robb, walked back President Trump’s pro-independent contractor agenda at the...more
2/1/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Independent Contractors ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
NLRB General Counsel ,
OSHA ,
Race Discrimination ,
Tip-Pooling
During the first 100 days of the new administration, each Friday we will be providing a run-down of significant initiatives and events that will impact employers. We already have much to report. President Biden hit the ground...more
1/22/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Bias ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
NLRA ,
NLRB ,
NLRB General Counsel ,
OFCCP ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Workplace Safety
On December 16, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) expanded on its COVID-19 Q&A guidance to address the interplay of vaccines with employment discrimination laws. While the agency confirms that...more
12/18/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On September 22, 2020, President Donald Trump issued a controversial Executive Order “combat[ting] offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating” by federal contractors and recipients of federal grant...more
9/28/2020
/ Bias ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Colleges ,
Deregulation ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Educational Institutions ,
Employee Training ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
OFCCP ,
Race Relations ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Sexual Stereotyping ,
Title VII ,
Trump Administration ,
Universities
The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently issued a new set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to issues borrowers are facing as they apply for loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)....more
On July 8, the U.S. Supreme Court issued two 7-2 decisions involving religious exemptions to federal employment and benefits laws....more
7/10/2020
/ Administrative Authority ,
Administrative Procedure Act ,
Affordable Care Act ,
Age Discrimination ,
Appeals ,
Contraceptive Coverage Mandate ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employer Rights ,
Employment Discrimination ,
First Amendment ,
Freedom of Religion ,
HRSA ,
Injunctive Relief ,
Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v Pennsylvania ,
Ministerial Exception ,
Religious Exemption ,
Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) ,
Religious Schools ,
Reversal ,
SCOTUS ,
Teachers ,
Trump v Pennsylvania ,
U.S. Treasury
In Verizon New York, Inc. (Verizon), the National Labor Relations Board (Board) recently found that a work rule reserving the right for the company to monitor and/or search personal property, and a rule permitting the company...more
7/8/2020
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Litigation ,
Employment Policies ,
NLRA ,
NLRB ,
Personal Property ,
Purple Communications ,
Section 7 ,
Security Checks ,
Unions