Taking Care of HR Business

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        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on March 3, 2017

        From wristwatches that can take pictures to retinal scanners to fitness trackers, wearable devices are becoming increasingly popular in everyday...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on March 1, 2017

        In a decision issued on February 17, 2017 (Fuller v. Hannaford Brothers Company, App. Div. 7-17), the Maine Workers' Compensation Board Appellate...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on February 10, 2017

        Jacob Abilt (not his real name) was a covert employee for the CIA until his employment was terminated in October 2011. After his termination Abilt...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on February 2, 2017

        On January 22, 2017, employers must use an updated version of the Form I-9, making the previous I-9 form (dated March 8, 2013) obsolete. The United...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on January 20, 2017

        As most readers are aware, the Department of Labor has appealed the November 22, 2016 Order of Judge Amos Mazzant of the United States District Court...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on January 20, 2017

        On Thursday, January 19, 2017, the Eighth Circuit issued an opinion in Guenther v. Griffin Constr. Co., 16-1760 (8th Cir. Jan. 19, 2017), and held...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on January 19, 2017

        With technology advancing at the current rate, the dark ages referenced isn't ten or fifteen years ago, but instead, two or three. If your capacity...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on January 18, 2017

        Last week the EEOC released proposed Enforcement Guidance on Unlawful Harassment with a Press Release noting that the proposed Guidance is available...

        January 12, 2017

        The 2016 elections – local and national – have given rise to a number of complicated developments in labor and employment law. To help employers...

        November 22, 2016

        On November 22, 2016, a federal judge in the Eastern District of Texas granted a motion for preliminary injunction filed by the State of Nevada and...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on November 9, 2016

        While still up for debate (as of the time of the writing of this blog), most news outlets and agencies in Maine are reporting that Question 1 on...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on November 9, 2016

        On Tuesday, Massachusetts residents legalized marijuana for recreational purposes. How does this effect your relationship with your employees and...

        November 9, 2016

        From dealing with employees who flirt or tweet off-color jokes to resolving altercations between employees, there are a great deal of risks and...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on November 8, 2016

        On Friday, November 4, 2016, the Western District of Pennsylvania issued an order denying the Defendant's Motion to Dismiss in EEOC v. Scott Medical...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on November 1, 2016

        The recent week-long strike at two Jim Beam facilities in Kentucky highlights a very interesting tension in the current workplace. Workers at the...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on October 31, 2016

        The EEOC has posted its Strategic Enforcement Plan for Fiscal Years 2017-2021. Included in the substantive priorities: 1. Eliminating Barriers in...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on October 28, 2016

        Earlier this year, the National Labor Relations Board, in Medco Health Solutions of Las Vegas, Inc., 364 N.R.R.B. No. 115 (Aug. 27, 2016), found that...

        October 20, 2016

        With fall in full-swing, our attorneys are busy working to provide more valuable resources for employers, HR professionals, in-house counsel and...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on October 12, 2016

        On Wednesday, October 5, 2016, a much-anticipated report generated by the NASI (National Academy of Social Insurance) was released. The report had...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on September 30, 2016

        I am just back from an invigorating seminar put on by the national group to which we belong as the sole Maine member, the National Workers'...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on September 30, 2016

        Earlier this week, the Governor's Panel to Review and Make Recommendations for Improvement of the Maine Human Rights Commission and Its Operations...

        September 30, 2016

        09/30/2016 On June 7, 2016, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law Public Act 16-125, which allows employers to pay employees using...

        September 22, 2016

        On September 20, two lawsuits were filed in federal court seeking to stop the new overtime regulations from going into effect on December 1. One...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on September 19, 2016

        Stories of the horrors of opiate over-prescription and abuse are abundant, and Maine has not been spared the ravages of that epidemic. In response to...

        September 19, 2016

        As the sole Maine representative to the National Workers' Compensation Defense Network, Beth Smith, will be attending the NWCDN Annual Conference in...

        August 31, 2016

        As reported by my colleague Erik Peters last week, the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") has again reversed course and held that graduate...

        August 25, 2016

        Talk about sending a message! Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court just reinstated a $540,000 jury verdict in favor of a finance manager at a Lexus...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 23, 2016

        Yes, you read the title correctly, the employee was a state employee, who was smoking marijuana while working, in a work vehicle, while...

        August 23, 2016

        Well, law school certainly felt like a job to your humble correspondent, and now it appears that the National Labor Relations Board...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on August 22, 2016

        In Massachusetts, as in many states, when an employee is injured in the course of work, but the injury is caused by a third party, the employee is...

        About the Blog

        Human resource professionals, supervisors, and company executives are constantly confronted with a changing legal landscape. Verrill’s Taking Care of HR Business blog is designed to keep you informed about the latest and most significant legal developments that affect employers.

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        About

        Human resource professionals, supervisors, and company executives alike face a constantly changing and evolving legal landscape. Verrill’s Taking Care of HR Business blog is here to keep you up to date on the newest and most important legal developments for employers.

        Verrill’s employment and labor attorneys are based throughout New England but practice on a national stage. In addition to regular appearances in state and federal courts, they often appear before state and federal agencies that create and enforce the various frameworks that regulate the employer-employee relationship. The Group has a wide range of experience in all aspects of labor and employment law and is frequently tapped to serve on state and national legal organizations, participate in industry seminars, and contribute to professional journals, thereby continually adding value to their client relationships. Learn more about Verrill’s Employment and Labor Group.

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        Firm Highlights

        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...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Recent FinCEN Advisory Highlights Rising Health Care Fraud Risk for Financial Institutions

        As the federal government intensifies its “whole of government” approach to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, particularly in Federal Health Care...
        Press Releases

        Two Verrill Attorneys Featured in the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers List

        PORTLAND, Maine – Verrill attorneys Roger A. Clement, Jr. and Robert J. Keach have been featured in the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global...
        Published Works

        Verrill Attorney Mark Googins Co-Authors Maine Commercial Lending Handbook

        Verrill attorney Mark Googins has co-authored the Maine Commercial Lending Handbook (Second Edition), published March 2026.  A trusted, practical...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Private Clients & Fiduciary Services Attorney James Hallinan

        GREENWICH, Connecticut (March 26, 2026) – Verrill is pleased to welcome James Hallinan to the firm’s Private Clients & Fiduciary Services...