With the position of its director finally filled (by Arthur F. Rosenfeld), the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS) is able to turn its attention to reviewing its rules and interpretations. While the main focus of attention at OLMS during the years of the Obama Administration was the “Persuader Rule” that
Handbooks Are Back: NLRB General Counsel Issues Important Guidance Regarding New Employer-Friendly Work Rules Standard
In a memorandum issued last week, NLRB General Counsel Peter Robb offered important guidance on how his office plans to prosecute claims of unlawful workplace rules in the wake of the Board’s restorative Boeing decision (365 NLRB No. 154 (Dec. 14, 2017)). As we discussed here last December, the Boeing decision created a sensible standard
New Hampshire Passes Transgender Anti-Discrimination Legislation
On June 8th, New Hampshire Governor Christopher Sununu signed into law H.B. 1319, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations. H.B. 1319 defines gender identity as “a person’s gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated
Highly-Publicized U.S. Supreme Court LGBT Ruling Threads the Needle and Avoids Constitutional Questions
In a 7-2 decision yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to bake a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple based on his devout Christian beliefs. Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, No. 16-111 (June 4, 2018). Although the case received heightened
Good News for Ohio’s State Fund Employers
The Board of the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation at its meeting today approved an 85% premium rebate of the workers compensation premiums paid for the year ending June 30, 2017 for private sector employers and calendar year 2016 for public employers. Checks should go out to the eligible employers over several weeks in July,
Court Confirms That Staffing Agency’s Workers’ Comp Policy Shields Customer from Common Law Negligence Claims, Too
An Ohio court of appeals last week confirmed that a primary benefit of using staffing companies – the staffing company’s payment of workers’ compensation premiums covering the loaned employees – shields both the staffing company and its customer from workplace negligence claims.
Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals, in Thomas v. PSC Metals, 2018-Ohio-1630
DOL Issues Helpful FLSA Guidance for Employers
On April 12, 2018, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the Department of Labor reinstituted its practice of issuing opinion letters, providing the Agency’s interpretation of discrete issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Obama administration had suspended the longstanding practice nearly a decade ago. Two of the opinion letters issued on April
Target’s $3.74 Million Settlement is a Reminder to Employers Utilizing Background Checks
On Friday, Target agreed to pay $3.74 million and review its policies for screening job applicants to settle Carnella Times et al. v. Target Corp., a class action in the Southern District of New York challenging the company’s use of background checks. The suit claimed that Target’s use of criminal background checks violated Title
Supreme Court Holds That Service Advisors are Exempt from the FLSA’s Overtime Requirements
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court on Monday held in Encino Motorcars, LLC v. Navarro, et al., that current and former service advisors in a car dealership were not entitled to overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Court ruled that the service advisors were exempt from overtime under 29 U.S.C. §2113(b)(10)(A),
6th Circuit Court Of Appeals Holds That Telecommuting May Be A Reasonable Accommodation
In a recent decision handed down by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, Mosby-Meachem v. Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division, No. 17-5483 (6th Cir. 2018), the Court held that in certain circumstances telecommuting may constitute a reasonable accommodation.
Andrea Mosby-Meachem was hired by Memphis Light in 2005 as an in-house