Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Although the debate between those wanting to protect the right to possess firearms and those who advocate for stricter gun control is often thought of as a federal issue, gun laws are often a function of state and local laws. We draw your attention to this important issue because the New Hampshire House and Senate […]
In a recent decision, the California Supreme Court takes an in-depth look at legislative history to dissect whether a county hospital authority entity can be liable for meal and rest period violations under the labor code and whether they can be considered “persons” subject to California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) penalties. In short, they […]
Last month, I talked about how the military makes the most effective use of e-mail. This month, I want to talk about using email to build a team effectively, to develop an esprit de corps, and to make use of wasted electronic real estate. No. 1: This Is Not About Etiquette The following is about […]
Question: What can employers do when they doubt an employee’s certification for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? Answer: If an employer doubts the validity of an employee’s FMLA certification, it may require the employee to get a second opinion from a healthcare provider. Generally, for employees to be granted leave under […]
The current National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) under President Joe Biden has been heavily involved in moving forward the administration’s prolabor goals. But as the Biden administration draws to a close, the Board faces a series of challenges. Board Abandons Joint Employer Regulations The NLRB’s expansive joint employer rule, issued in October 2023, faces an […]
With its 2024 Loper Bright decision, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the long-standing doctrine of Chevron deference, under which courts deferred to federal agencies’ interpretation of a statute when the text was ambiguous. The decision is already affecting numerous federal regulations. 5th Circuit Considering Whether to Remand Trump OT Case The U.S. 5th Circuit Court […]
The recent Supreme Court decisions eliminating Chevron deference and granting presidents all-but blanket immunity have prompted responses from Congress, both to support and invalidate the rulings. No Kings Act In response to the High Court’s presidential immunity ruling, over 30 Democratic Senators joined Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and introduced a bill that would overturn […]
Question: How frequently can a nursing mother take breaks under the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) Act? For example, although the law requires “reasonable break time,” what if an employee needs to pump every 30 minutes or every hour? Answer: It depends. The PUMP Act requires employers to provide covered employees “reasonable break […]
Massachusetts joined a growing list of states with pay transparency laws when Governor Maura Healy signed “An Act Relative to Salary Range Transparency” into law. The law, which will take effect in stages in 2025, requires many Massachusetts employers to disclose salary/pay ranges in all job postings and to file certain wage data/information with the […]
On July 29, 2024, the California Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion in Bailey v. San Francisco Dist. Attorney Office, Cal., No. S265223 and held that the employee’s claims of racial harassment should proceed to jury trial, as well as that the trial court’s decision to dismiss the case in favor of the employer was in […]