Ver la versión en español aquí On November 18, 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1B into law, which creates Fla. Stat. 381.00317 and imposes new limitations on private employers’ ability to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace. The law is effective immediately, and now Florida employers must adapt. Here is what you need … Continue Reading
Yesterday, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued the much-anticipated “Employee Rights” poster or notice concerning the Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave components of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Click here to access the poster. Along with the poster, the DOL provided some much needed guidance on various aspects of … Continue Reading
On Wednesday evening, March 18th, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”), which, among other things, mandates paid time off for certain qualifying events. There are two primary components in terms of paid time off: (1) the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (“E-FMLA”); and (2) the Emergency … Continue Reading
With Super Bowl LIII this Sunday and March Madness fast approaching, it is important to consider the impact of office pools on the workplace. Office pools can build workplace morale and improve employee relationships, not to mention add a little fun to the typical workday. Yet they remain illegal in many states, including Florida. In … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí The New York Times ran an article on December 11, 2017, titled, “Sexual Harassment Training Doesn’t Work. But Some Things Do.” The article describes sexual harassment training as an exercise that consists of “clicking through a PowerPoint, checking a box that you read the employee handbook or attending a … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Wow, this has been one crazy roller coaster ride. Season 1 of this overtime soap opera kicked-off with President Obama directing the Secretary of Labor to “modernize and streamline” the “white collar” FLSA exemptions. In May 2016, the DOL published revised regulations that increased the exempt salary threshold from … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí In last week’s blog, I highlighted Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that he’ll be taking 2 months off work following the birth of his daughter later this year (even though, presumably, he would be entitled to 12 weeks under the FMLA, and 4 months under Facebook’s policy). Well, paternity leave … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí More than 3 years ago, I blogged about the unjustified criticism received by then-New York Mets (and now Washington Nationals) baseball player Daniel Murphy when he missed 2 baseball games for the birth of his child. That criticism – much of it voiced by other athletes and sports commentators … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Is it prudent for employers to require employees to sign mandatory arbitration agreements? There is no right or wrong answer to that question . . . just a long list of pros and cons. Proponents of mandatory arbitration often focus on factors such as confidentiality, the ability to remove … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí As the fate of the Department of Labor’s revised overtime regulations remains in limbo as a result of a nationwide injunction (currently on appeal) issued in November 2016, Congress now has chimed-in on wage and hour issues potentially impacting non-exempt employees. This week, the House of Representatives passed The … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Finally. The wait is almost over. The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether an employer may enforce a mandatory arbitration agreement that contains a class action or collective action waiver. Last Friday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear 3 cases stemming from the NLRB’s 2012 decision in D.R. Horton, … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí A few weeks ago, four former Hewlett-Packard employees between the ages of 52 and 63 filed a class action lawsuit in California alleging that HP engaged in age discrimination, and terminated their employment, in connection with a paring-down and restructuring of its workforce. HP has denied the allegations of discrimination, … Continue Reading
The NFL is a multi-billion dollar bu$ine$$. Peyton Manning won the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos. On top of his $15 million salary, he earned a $2 million bonus. Cam Newton lost the Super Bowl, but don’t feel sorry for him; he signed a 5-year $103.8 million contract. For their Super Bowl appearances, every … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Did you watch the Democratic presidential debate on October 13, 2015? If so, you heard the candidates make many promises, among them paid family leave. True, we already have the FMLA, but it only requires unpaid leave, it only applies to employers with 50 or more employees, and it … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí According to Elizabeth Beck, a Florida attorney who deposed Donald Trump in 2011 in connection with a real estate project, Mr. Trump erupted when she requested a break in the deposition so she could pump breast milk: “He got up, his face got red, he shook his finger at … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Legislative efforts have failed repeatedly at the federal level to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the list of protected classifications under anti-discrimination laws. That has not deterred the EEOC in its quest to protect the LGBT community from employment discrimination. On the heels of the Supreme Court’s … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí This past week, I read the NLRB’s recent Order in Banner Health Systems, and, strangely enough, Elmer J. Fudd came to mind. Yes, the Looney Tunes character – the archenemy of Bugs Bunny. As he attempted to hunt-down Bugs, Elmer Fudd would say, “Shhh. Be vewy, vewy, quiet. I’m … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Title VII, through the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), has expressly prohibited pregnancy discrimination since 1978. Thirteen years later, the Supreme Court, in Johnson Controls, told us that even well-intentioned, but facially discriminatory, gender and pregnancy based employment policies — like Johnson Control’s policy of prohibiting fertile women from working … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Stress. Anxiety. Paranoia. Anger. Fear. Depression. Angst. These are the types of words you would expect to hear from a plaintiff seeking compensatory damages (damages for alleged pain and suffering) in a discrimination or harassment case. How does a plaintiff prove the existence of pain and suffering? Often times, … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Women may not yet have achieved equality in the corporate boardroom, but women have broken through the glass ceiling to take-on the CEO position in a handful of the largest U.S. companies, including General Motors (Mary Barra), Xerox (Ursula Burns), Yahoo! (Marissa Mayer), Hewlett-Packard (Meg Whitman), PepsiCo (Indra Nooyi), … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Effective March 27, 2015, the FMLA’s definition of “spouse” will expand to include an FMLA-eligible employee in a lawful same-sex or common law marriage, even if the marriage is not recognized in the state in which the employee lives or works. This change will provide all legally married couples … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Another sports blunder creates another blogging opportunity. In the 3rd quarter of the Los Angeles Clippers/Cleveland Cavaliers NBA game last Thursday night, the Clippers’ All-Star guard, Chris Paul, received a technical foul after he questioned a rookie referee. The referee happened to be a female, Lauren Holtkamp. Do you … Continue Reading
On November 4, Florida voters will go the polls to vote on a constitutional amendment that would legalize the use of medical marijuana. If the amendment passes, how will that impact Florida workplaces? Please join us for breakfast in our Miami office on November 10th. We will address important FAQs about how medical marijuana may affect … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Surveys are conducted periodically to compile lists of “best employee benefits.” Those lists have included items such as: free lunch (yes, there is such a thing for some lucky employees); fully-paid insurance premiums; gym membership and fitness classes; flexible schedules, including 4-day workweeks; telecommuting options; transportation subsidies; paid maternity … Continue Reading
