Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Alert: Can Employers Require Employees to Receive the COVID Vaccine
MANDATORY COVID VACCINATION POLICIES Employers will soon be facing the question of whether to require COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of employment. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently issued new guidance addressing this question. In brief, employers can require workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine and bar them from the workplace if… Read More »
Alert–US Supreme Court Holds that Title VII Protects Gays, Trans Workers
Alert–US Supreme Court Holds that Title VII Protects Gays, Trans Workers READ MORE >>
U.S. SUPREME COURT RULES LGBTQ WORKERS ARE PROTECTED FROM JOB DISCRIMINATION
On June 15, 2020, the majority of the United States Supreme Court ruled that workers cannot be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In a 6-3 ruling, the Court said that the federal anti-discrimination law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, applies to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender… Read More »
FINAL FEDERAL OVERTIME RULES
On September 24, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor finalized its Rule increasing the salary threshold for the Fair Labor Standards Act’s exemptions for executive, administrative and professional workers (“EAP”). The new Rule will automatically extend overtime pay protections to over 1.3 million workers within the first year of implementation. The key provisions are:… Read More »
Whistleblower Lawsuit Filed in New Jersey Amid Claims of Government Corruption
Earlier this month, a nurse filed a claim in federal court against her former employer after she was fired for reporting concerns that a supervisor was committing fraud. Although there are laws in place that prohibit these types of retaliatory actions, employees who report employer misconduct are still regularly fired or demoted as a… Read More »
DOL Adjusts Penalties for Overtime Violations
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently increased the civil penalties for violating federal overtime and minimum wage laws, For this reason, it is important going forward for employers to review their pay practices to ensure that they are in compliance with the new rules. If you have questions about how these changes could… Read More »
Senators Push to Expand Fair Housing Act
Last November, Senators Kaine and Hatch officially unveiled a new bill aimed at offering additional protections from housing discrimination to low-income families and military veterans. If passed, the Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2018, would significantly expand the protections available to certain individuals, so if you want to learn more about these protections and… Read More »
Former Employee of Telecommunications Company Alleges Gender and Age Discrimination
In November, 2018, the former technology director at Blank Rome filed suit against her former employer and its chief information officer, alleging that she was terminated after making a number of complaints about gender bias and age discrimination. Allegations of Gender and Age Discrimination in the Workplace The lawsuit in question was filed… Read More »
Federal Government Recovers $14.3 Million for Hurricane Recovery Workers
Since the summer of 2017, the Department of Labor (DOL) has recovered more than $14.3 million in unpaid wages for 7,761 people who were employed as hurricane recovery workers following hurricanes Irma and Maria. In addition to non-payment of wages, a number of employers were also found to have committed other labor law violations… Read More »
SEC Criticized for Proposed Changes to its Whistleblower Program
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed a series of amendments to the rules that govern its whistleblower program. The propositions were met with criticism from many who expressed concern that the changes would undermine the whistleblower program’s current success. Based on the comments made during the SEC’s open comments… Read More »