Blog Posts

        Category: Labor Laws
        by Tawny L. Alvarez on November 15, 2024

        Earlier today, November 15, 2024, United States District Court Judge Sean D. Jordan of the Eastern District of Texas, granted summary judgment...

        November 14, 2024

        On November 13, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a landmark decision in the case of Amazon Services LLC, banning so-called...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on November 12, 2024

        While Maine employers are still waiting for the Department of Labor to finalize regulations related to the recently instituted Paid FML program,...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 3, 2023

        Last week the United States Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision ending a four-decade precedent which had allowed universities and colleges to...

        January 13, 2022

        In NFIB v. OSHA, the Court focused its decision on OSHA’s emergency temporary standards which require the Secretary to show (1) “that employees...

        by Elizabeth T. Johnston on January 5, 2022

        On Monday, Portland City Councilors took two significant actions that affect employers in Portland, Maine. First, the Council repealed an emergency...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on December 9, 2021

          In 2021, due to the ongoing pandemic, the Employment & Labor Group hosted their monthly Annual Update seminars virtually this...

        by Elizabeth T. Johnston on October 22, 2021

        With the nation’s ongoing focus on COVID-19 vaccinations, you may be hearing information—and misinformation—about your obligations under HIPAA,...

        October 14, 2021

        This is the third in a series of posts from Verrill with the purpose of helping to dispel myths that are currently circulating concerning employment...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on October 8, 2021

        This is the second in a series of posts from Verrill with the purpose of helping to dispel myths that are currently circulating concerning employment...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on October 8, 2021

        This is the first in a series of posts from Verrill with the purpose of helping to dispel myths that are currently circulating concerning employment...

        October 4, 2021

        On August 12, 2021 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Abruzzo published her first memo setting forth the NLRB’s priorities. The...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on March 11, 2021

        In March 2021, we worked with MP HR & Payroll Solutions who created an eBook as a resource for employers, "The COVID Vaccine: HR Policy...

        February 26, 2021

        Who is Scabby? Scabby is an inflatable rat, sometimes installed by unions at protests and on picket lines. Scabby has been around since the late...

        December 15, 2020

        Those dreaming of taking to the skies next year with scaled, feathered, or furry friends may want to take a look at the recent DOT Service Animal...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on March 18, 2020

        Q: I am concerned about employees coming to work with a fever—can I test employees’ temperatures before allowing them to work to avoid spreading...

        April 1, 2019

        The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division recently announced a proposed rule updating regulations governing what items are included in an...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on January 22, 2019

        After a year full of changes for employers paired with a new governor in Maine, Verrill Dana will reflect on recent legal developments in labor and...

        December 11, 2018

        He's making a list and checking it twice—you know the drill: Santa's game is that he rewards good behavior during the year with gifts under the...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on November 26, 2018

        Over the past few days, while many were preparing turkeys or throwing out lettuce, the Boston Globe posted Trouble is brewing at craft beer darling...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 18, 2018

        In the past we have focused a lot on volunteer labor. The fact that generally an individual cannot "volunteer" to work for a for-profit business. The...

        by Douglas P. Currier on December 7, 2017

        The first year of the Trump administration has brought significant changes – many of which directly affect employers. On Thursday, January 25,...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on September 6, 2017

        On Thursday, Judge Amos Mazzant of the Eastern District of Texas issued an order concluding that the Department of Labor's amendments to the...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 26, 2017

        Based off of information received in a Portland Press Herald article, we previously noted that the Maine Department of Labor Director of Policy,...

        Firm Highlights

        Blog

        What is a Bonus for Purposes of ERISA?

        An ongoing dispute about a Department of Labor advisory opinion published last September raises a basic but unanswered question under the ERISA: What...
        Media Mentions

        Verrill Recognized by WMTW for Partnership Supporting Hunger Relief in Maine

        Verrill was recently featured in coverage by WMTW News 8 for its role in a collaborative effort to combat food insecurity across southern...
        Press Releases

        33 Verrill Attorneys, Across Four Offices, Recognized in the 2026 Chambers USA Guide

        BOSTON, Massachusetts, PORTLAND, Maine, WESTPORT, Connecticut, and WASHINGTON, D.C. – Verrill has been recognized as a Leading Firm in 14...
        Blog

        Will the Knicks Beat the Spurs? (Are Prediction Market Event Contracts Gambling?)

        For those of you who like to keep score, currently 18 states are engaged in litigation over prediction markets, such as Kalshi and Polymarket,...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        DOJ Announces Faster Review and Enhanced Enforcement for Benefits-Fraud FCA Matters

        On May 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Division issued a new memorandum, “Accelerating Review and Enhancing Enforcement in...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        DOJ Announces Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown; Signals Intensified Medicaid Enforcement Nationwide

        On May 21, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced a first-of-its kind Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown charging 15 defendants, including...
        Media Mentions

        Lauren Galvin Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly on Arbitration and Anti-SLAPP Protections

        Verrill Partner Lauren Galvin was recently featured in a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly article highlighting a notable Superior Court decision...
        Blog

        Section 530A Accounts: What Employers Should Consider Before Offering Contributions to “Trump” Accounts

        Section 530A accounts, commonly referred to as Trump accounts, have attracted attention since the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in...
        Blog

        Navigating PBM Reform: Regulatory Changes, Market Shifts, and Practical Guidance for ERISA Fiduciaries

        Pharmacy Benefit Manager (“PBM”) arrangements have long relied on rebates with limited transparency into true drug costs. Recent regulatory and...
        Blog

        DOL’s Proposed Regulation on Selecting Alternative Investments: Broad Implications for 401(k) and 403(b) Plan Fiduciaries

        On March 30, 2026, the Department of Labor issued a proposed regulation purporting to implement an executive order to expand access to “alternative...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Private Clients & Fiduciary Services Attorney Gracie Castle

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill is pleased to welcome Gracie Castle to the firm’s Private Clients & Fiduciary Services Group as an Associate,...
        Published Works

        Francesco De Vito Authors Article in the Journal of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys

        Verrill Partner Frank De Vito authored an article featured in the Spring 2026 issue of The Abstract, the journal of the American College of Mortgage...