In July 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) filed suit against Cotti Foods Corporation after it allegedly failed to file EEO-1 reports between 2021-2023, despite repeated notice. Last month, the parties entered into a consent decree under which Cotti Foods is required to file three years’ worth of past-due data within 30 days, appoint
Katherine McLaughlin
Katie focuses her practice on the representation of management in all aspects of labor and employment law. She aids in the defense of employers in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies in a wide range of matters, including employment discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wage and hour disputes. Katie also assists in providing day-to-day counseling to employers by researching human resources issues such as terminations, compliance with employment laws, and the preparation of policies and employment agreements. Katie earned her J.D., cum laude, from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and her B.A. from Wittenberg University.
Not-So-Friendly Reminders from the NLRB to Review Your Severance Agreements and Employee Handbooks
Recent decisions and settlements from the National Labor Relations Board should serve as a not-so-friendly reminder to ensure that your severance agreements and employee handbooks do not run afoul of the National Labor Relations Act.
Severance Agreements
In June 2024, the Board held that a company violated the NLRA by including non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions…
EEOC Issues Final Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Regulations
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) has finalized its regulations for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”), which went into effect last summer. After issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in August 2023, summarized here, and a notice and comment period, the EEOC published the Final Rule in the Federal Register on April 19…
New Year, New OSHA Reporting Requirements: What OSHA’s Final Injury and Illness Tracking Rule Means for Employers
On January 1, 2024, a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) Rule took effect: the Final Rule to Improve Tracking. OSHA has long required employers to track and maintain records regarding workplace injuries and illnesses. Since 2016, OSHA has implemented (under multiple Presidential Administrations) varying rules regarding electronic submission of Forms 300, 300A…
Getting Into the Weeds: How The Outcome of Ohio Issue 2 May Impact Employers
Next week, Ohioans will head to the polls to vote on Issue 2, which would legalize and regulate recreational marijuana for Ohioans over the age of 21 to include cultivation, sale, purchase, possession, use and home growth, in addition to other proposed regulation.
So will Issue 2 force employers to change how they make decisions…
Employers: Make Sure You’re Crystal Clear on Pay Transparency
Pay transparency is on the rise. To date, eight states and multiple cities and localities have already enacted pay transparency statues – and several more jurisdictions have pending legislation. What do these laws require, and what should employers expect if they become subject to them?
Generally, these laws have three different components. They could have…
The Five Deadly Sins of Employee Handbooks
Employee handbooks are vital tools employers use to communicate expectations for employee conduct, company culture and core values, policies, and procedures. However, when drafted poorly, handbooks can create confusion and legal liability. Below are some of the most common mistakes employers make in their employee handbooks, and how to fix them.
- Inadvertently creating an employment
Are 4-Day Work Weeks Right 4 Employers?
In the midst of a national labor shortage, employers recruiting from a shrinking pool of potential employees are looking for ways to gain a competitive edge over other employers. What’s a better job perk than having every Friday off?
Companies nationwide, including an Ohio construction and real estate company, are beginning to implement 4-day work…
Addressing Today’s Problem and Avoiding Tomorrow’s Tragedy: Employer Tactics for Responding to and Preventing Workplace Violence
On November 22, 2022, a Virginia Walmart employee reportedly opened fire in a staff break room, killing six co-workers and injuring several others. On January 23, 2023, a California mushroom farm employee shot and killed seven people at two locations, one of which was his place of employment. These tragedies are just two examples of…