Category Archives: Disability & Leave

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Is Sex Addiction Discrimination a Thing?

Ver la versión en español aquí The first time I heard the term “sex addiction” was in 2010, when Tiger Woods announced to the public that he would be stepping away from the PGA Tour to attend rehab. The announcement shook the sports world and sparked a conversation about an addiction that seemed to only … Continue Reading

Psst, Florida HR Pros: NY Paid Sick Leave Law Takes Effect September 30, 2020

Ver la versión en español aquí For those employers who also have New York employees, heads up: a new leave law will apply to you starting this Wednesday. New York has enacted a state-wide, permanent sick leave law, separate and apart from the state’s COVID-19 Quarantine Leave Law. In an unusual twist, this state law … Continue Reading

Hot Off the Presses: DOL Issues Revised FMLA Forms

Ver la versión en español aquí We are in the midst of a global pandemic, with many employers struggling financially to survive.  Yet, surprisingly, the biggest news from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is not new safety rules intended to protect employees from the novel coronavirus.  Instead, last Friday, the DOL published revised optional-use … Continue Reading

POSTPONED: Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminars

Dear Clients and Friends, These words just came out of my mouth, “I have extra toilet paper I can trade for some rice.”  Yesterday, I wore gloves, a face mask and carried homemade alcohol wipes in order to go food shopping. How the world has changed in one month! So this will not come as … Continue Reading

DOL Provides More Guidance on the FFCRA

The DOL has been working overtime attempting to clarify and answer questions on various aspects of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). As we reported last week, the DOL issued its “Employee Rights” poster, along with initial guidance in the form of “Questions and Answers.” On Thursday night (March 26) and then again on Saturday evening … Continue Reading

DOL Issues New FFCRA Poster and Further Guidance

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

Federal Paid Leave Law Signed by President Trump

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

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): What Employers Need to Know

Statistics Updated October 27, 2020. On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced an official name for the disease that is causing the novel coronavirus outbreak, first identified in Wuhan China.  The name of this disease is coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated COVID-19. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a … Continue Reading

Automation and the ADA

Ver la versión en español aquí With rapid automation there comes a tipping point for the need of humans in the workplace. Automation will become so pervasive that companies will need to cobble together remaining job duties into hybrid job positions to be performed by the remaining human employees. Is this the future? No, it’s … Continue Reading

Kiwis Will Have the Protection of Paid Domestic Violence Leave. What About Floridians?

Ver la versión en español aquí In April 2019, New Zealand employers will be required to provide victims of domestic violence 10 days of paid leave. The purpose of the paid leave is to allow domestic violence victims to relocate, seek legal help, and address their trauma without fear of losing their income. In Florida, … Continue Reading

Nothing to Sneeze at: Chemical Sensitivities, Bed Bugs, Zika and Flu Shots

Ver la versión en español aquí I recently spoke at the SHRM 2018 Annual Conference & Exposition in Chicago. My topic was  “Health Issues are Nothing to Sneeze at: Chemical Sensitivities, Bed Bugs, Zika and Flu Shots.” SHRM had over 18,000 attendees. It was a great opportunity to discuss some of the legal issues employers face when … Continue Reading

Top Takeaways from Our Annual Tampa Labor & Employment Law Seminar

Ver la versión en español aquí Our first Annual Tampa Labor & Employment Law Seminar was a success, with more than 70 attendees! We anticipate growing the seminar in the coming years and will use your feedback to determine future topics and content. Thank you to all who attended. Congratulations to our blog contest winner! … Continue Reading

Top Takeaways from Our 28th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar

Ver la versión en español aquí Another successful seminar in the books! Thank you to the nearly 400 attendees who came from near and far. We hope you enjoyed the day and that our presentations provided timely, relevant and valuable insight. Congratulations to our blog contest winners! You will receive complimentary registrations to our 2019 Seminar. Monelle Petgrave, Amadeus … Continue Reading

REGISTRATION OPEN! 28th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar

Ver la versión en español aquí Please join us for our 28th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar Friday, April 27th from 8am-4pm at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami. Our annual seminar draws hundreds of human resource professionals, in-house counsel and senior executives from South Florida’s top businesses. And for good reason! No one does events quite … Continue Reading

Morale Makes Money: How Starbucks Raised the Bar(ista)… Again

Ver la versión en español aquí Last week, the CEO of Starbucks, Kevin Johnson, announced the ‘Partner and Family Sick Time’ benefits for all of Starbucks’ U.S. employees. Starbucks is giving employees a number of additional perks, including increased wages, stock grants, six-week paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents and five days of paid … Continue Reading

EEOC Sues to Give Fathers the Same “Maternity” Leave as Mothers

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

“Like” or “Dislike” – Did Zuckerberg Overlook Facebook’s Paternity Leave Policy?

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

Massachusetts: Medical Marijuana May Be “Reasonable Accommodation”—Still No Guidance in Florida

Ver la versión en español aquí On November 8, 2016, Florida voters approved the medical use of marijuana for individuals with certain debilitating medical conditions. The effective date was January 3, 2017.  However, to date, Florida has done nothing to address how employers are to treat employees who will be prescribed marijuana for their disabilities. One … Continue Reading

Clean Up On Aisle 6: Federal Judge Rules That Winn-Dixie’s Website Violates the ADA

Ver la versión en español aquí Is your organization a “public accommodation” under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?  Does your organization have a website?  If so, can that website be navigated with a keyboard (instead of a mouse) and with screen reader software?  Is the audio content on the website captioned? … Continue Reading

EEOC Wellness Plan Controversy: All’s Well That Ends Well?

Ver la versión en español aquí Earlier this month, the EEOC and Orion Energy Systems settled a case pending in a Wisconsin federal court in which the EEOC alleged that the company’s wellness plan violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This case goes back to the spring of 2009 when an employee was forced … Continue Reading

REGISTRATION OPEN! 27th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar

I cannot believe another year has come and gone! We are quickly approaching our 27th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar. Join us Friday, May 19th from 8am-4pm at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami as we “Predict the Future” and discuss what awaits employers in 2017. Mark your calendars now because this year’s seminar is not to … Continue Reading

Super Bowl 51: A Time to Review Attendance and Tardiness Policies

Ver la versión en español aquí The stage is set. Super Bowl 51 will arrive in less than two weeks.  But will your employees? In January 2016, the Workforce Institute conducted a survey to assess the impact of the Super Bowl on worker productivity the next day. According to the study, 77% of Americans planned … Continue Reading

Florida’s Medical Marijuana Constitutional Amendment Takes Effect Today

The Florida Medical Marijuana Legislative Initiative (also known as Amendment 2), passed with 71% of the popular vote on November 8, 2016.  Amendment 2 allows the medical use of marijuana for individuals with certain debilitating medical conditions as determined by a licensed Florida physician.  Because Amendment 2 is silent as to its effective date, under … Continue Reading
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