On February 25, 2015, the Department of Labor issued a Final Rule revising the regulatory definition of spouse under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The Final Rule amends the regulatory definition of spouse under the FMLA so that eligible employees in legal same-sex marriages will be able to take FMLA leave to care for … Continue reading FMLA – DOL Revises Definition of Spouse
The cold and flu season is upon us. When employees are sick, employers should encourage them to stay home in order to avoid spreading contagious germs, which could cause others to get sick. The question is, does cold and flu qualify for FMLA. The answer, sometimes it does. FMLA regulations state that unless complications … Continue reading Does Cold and Flu Qualify for FMLA? Sometimes…
Employee-related lawsuits are on the rise and have increased 2000% since 1995. EEOC claims have jumped from about 83,000 in 2007 to approximately 90,000 in 2014. The EEOC collected approximately $340 million in monetary awards last year. According to the latest data from Jury Verdict Research, the median award for all types of discrimination claims … Continue reading Is Your Company a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen?
15 Top Reasons Employers Get Sued By Employees
On February 4, The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released the FY 2014 claims, enforcement, and litigation statistics/data. The fiscal year ran from October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014. The number of discrimination charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that included allegations of retaliation reached an all-time high in FY … Continue reading EEOC Releases FY2014 Stats: Retaliation Reaches Record High
In its Annual Report to Congress on the Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Program, the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports that both the number of whistleblower claims and the magnitude of the financial awards stemming from those claims “were record-breaking” in FY 2014. Under the Dodd-Frank whistleblower incentive program, individuals who report original information that … Continue reading Record Breaking Awards in Whistle Blower Cases in 2014
As of January 1, new regulations that govern reporting of work-related injuries and illnesses have gone into effect. In September 2014, OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) announced that new regulations would be coming in 2015 to give companies and employers time to prepare for compliance with the regulations. Per OSHA’s Fact Sheet, Under the … Continue reading New OSHA Requirements for 2015
Affordable Care Act Updates: Employer Mandate in Effect Note: January 1, 2015, two (2) requirements of health care reform went into effect. Thereby, beginning the first phase of the Employer Mandate, the “Pay or Play” provision. Once fully implemented, the “Pay of Play” provision of the Affordable Care Act will require all employers with 50 … Continue reading Affordable Care Act Update: Employer Mandate in Effect Jan 1, 2015
According to the Washington Post, the Supreme Court announced last Friday, November 7, that it will hear the most serious challenge to the Affordable Care Act since the justices found it constitutional more than two years ago: a lawsuit targeting the federal subsidies that help millions of Americans buy health insurance. The U.S. Supreme Court … Continue reading Affordable Care Act, Supreme Court Decision May Change Fate
With several cases of Ebola diagnosed in the United States, employers should be prepared to protect the workforce, especially if employees travel to an Ebola-infected country (for business or personal reasons), or even domestically, as cases arise in this country. Employers should educate employees working in areas threatened by the Ebola virus about how to … Continue reading Ebola Outbreak: Employer Tips To Protect Workforce
Recently, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its first enforcement Guidance on pregnancy discrimination in 31 years. The Guidance redefines the circumstances in which an employer is required to accommodate pregnancy restrictions and represents a significant departure from the current guidelines. EEOC spokesman, Christine Nazar, stated the Pregnancy Discrimination guidelines were updated, “because we … Continue reading EEOC Issues New Pregnancy Discrimination Guidance, Increases Employer Obligations
