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Seyfarth Shaw LLP

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Latest from Employment Law Lookout

Employment Law Lookout

Businesses Seek to Provide Abortion Travel Benefits in Light of Potential Supreme Court Decision

By Seyfarth Shaw LLP

May 12, 2022

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By Danita N.Merlau and Benjamin J.Conley Seyfarth Synopsis: In light of recent state-level trends, businesses have begun exploring avenues to assist employees in states with restrictive abortion laws with travel to nearby states to receive abortion services. In implementing these programs, employers should consider the various ERISA and tax code-related provisions that may impact design. In recent years, various state efforts to impose more restrictive abortion laws were blocked by the courts because they were found to…

Employment Law Lookout

Workforce Drug Test Positivity Climbs to Highest Level in Two Decades

By Seyfarth Shaw LLP

April 5, 2022

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By Adam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, and Craig B. Simonsen Seyfarth Synopsis: The rate of positive drug test results among America’s workforce reached its highest rate in 2021 since 2001, and was up more than 30% in the combined U.S. workforce from an all-time low in 2010-2012, according to a new analysis released by Quest Diagnostics, the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services. Employers face mounting challenges relating to employee…

Employment Law Lookout

CDC Publishes New Quarantine and Isolation Calculator

By Seyfarth Shaw LLP

March 29, 2022

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By Benjamin D. Briggs, A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen Seyfarth Synopsis: CDC’s new COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation calculator “takes the stress out of deciding when, and for how long, individuals with COVID-19 and close contacts need to stay home, get tested, and wear a well-fitting mask.” The new CDC calculator may help people with COVID-19 and their close contacts decide what precautions they should take to limit…

Employment Law Lookout

Five Key Issues in the Australian Workplace—Highlights for Multinational Employers

By Seyfarth Shaw LLP

March 18, 2022

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By Chris Gardner Seyfarth Synopsis: The key issues affecting Australian workplaces bear a strong resemblance with those in the United States. While generalizations suffer from the limitations of being just that, here are five issues HR and workplace leaders in Australia are grappling with in a two-minute read. Skills and staff shortages and wage pressure Almost one in five Australian employers are having difficulty finding suitable employees to fill jobs according to Government statistics, as…

Employment Law Lookout

The Workplace During Conflict: Considerations for Employees in Ukraine, Russia, and Beyond

By Seyfarth Shaw LLP

March 3, 2022

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By Marjorie Culver, Yana Komsitsky, and Dan Waldman Seyfarth Synopsis: As events unfold in Ukraine, employers face uncertainty regarding the impact on business and employees in the Ukraine, Russia, and elsewhere. Concerns include the safety and security of workers in the region, the impact of sanctions, and heightened anxieties among employees, to name a few. This article highlights key considerations for employers as they navigate this continuously developing situation. Worker safety and security: Many…

Employment Law Lookout

Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Will Expire On March 15th

By Seyfarth Shaw LLP

March 1, 2022

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By Daniel B. Klein, Christina Duszlak, and Alex J. Reganata Seyfarth Synopsis: The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Insurance has announced that the Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave (“MEPSL”) will expire on March 15, 2022. Employers have until April 29, 2022 to file their applications for reimbursements. On May 28, 2021, a temporary Massachusetts law providing 40 additional hours of paid sick leave (pro-rated for part-time employees) for COVID-19 related reasons went into…

Employment Law Lookout

You’re Invited! Employee Performance Management: Important Considerations and Best Practices to Minimize Legal Risk – March 8, 2022

By Seyfarth Shaw LLP

February 24, 2022

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By Ashley Cano, Brandon Dixon, and Ala Salameh About the Program: We welcome our clients and friends back to our offices for this informative and timely in-person event. Please join our attorneys from Seyfarth’s Chicago Labor & Employment group to learn about important considerations and best practices for employee performance management. This program, designed for both legal and HR professionals, will cover a wide range of performance management topics, including: Best practices for…

Employment Law Lookout

OSHA To Address Soaring Injury Rates at Healthcare Facilities

By Seyfarth Shaw LLP

February 17, 2022

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By James L. Curtis, Brent I. Clark, Mark A. Lies, Adam Young, Patrick D. Joyce, A. Scott Hecker, and Craig B. Simonsen Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Department of Labor reported today that “U.S. healthcare workers experienced a staggering 249 percent increase in injury and illness rates in 2020, based on employer-reported data, as they encountered serious safety and health hazards while serving those in need and labored countless hours battling…

Employment Law Lookout

UPDATED: New York Lifts Mask-or-Vax Mandate and HERO Act Masking Requirement

By Seyfarth Shaw LLP

February 11, 2022

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By Daniel I.Small and Robert S.Whitman Seyfarth Synopsis: This week, Governor Hochul announced that she will lift the mask-or-vaccinate mandate for nearly all public places of business on February 10, 2022. The New York Department of Labor has now revised its model safety plan under the HERO Act to eliminate the mask requirement in most settings. Other HERO Act measures remain in effect through at least February 15, 2022. We reported previously that, while Governor Hochul lifted the…

Employment Law Lookout

The District of Columbia’s Vaccine Mandate: What Businesses Need to Consider

By Seyfarth Shaw LLP

January 25, 2022

By Ronald S. Gart and Christopher A. Sickles Seyfarth Synopsis: Pursuant to the Mayor’s Order 2021-148 (the “Order”), beginning on January 15, 2022, the District of Columbia has required certain businesses to verify that all patrons aged 12 and over have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Beginning on February 15, 2022, all patrons must show proof that they have received at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Sign Up for …