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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 …