Taking Care of HR Business

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        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 27, 2017

        Most business owners are aware that if their business is public-facing they need to provide access for the physically disabled under the Americans...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 14, 2017

        Earlier this week, bill HB5591, which has been touted as legislation that will help to close the gender pay gap between Connecticut employees,...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 6, 2017

        Earlier this week, the Seventh Circuit in an en banc (all members of the court participating as opposed to only three) decision held that Title VII's...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 6, 2017

        We use the term "always connected" to describe the fact that the technology at our fingertips can connect us quickly to others across the room,...

        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

        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 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 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...

        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...

        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...

        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...

        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

        Blog

        Working 9 to 5? It’s a Way to Make a Livin’, so Make Sure You’re Payin’ for Every Minute: A Maine Employer’s Guide to Stacked Wage & Hour Rules

        Four decades after Dolly Parton gave us both the namesake anthem of the American workday and the film about three fed-up office workers’ dreams of...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Can AI Pass the Doctor Test? FDA Considers Physician-Inspired Evaluation of GenAI Devices and Other Regulatory Measures

        AI is entering healthcare with indomitable will. It promises to increase efficiency, reduce administrative burden (which healthcare providers so...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Attorney Annabel Rodriguez Named Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill attorney Annabel Rodriguez has been recognized as a Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, and will be...
        Blog

        What Employee Benefits Lawyers Do (and How to Make the Best Use of Us)

        What do employee benefits lawyers do all day and how can clients make the best use of them? This post offers an overview of the kinds of things...
        Media Mentions

        Bloomberg Law Quotes Robert Keach on Expanded Access to Small Business Reorganization

        Verrill attorney Bob Keach was recently featured in Bloomberg Law, discussing legislation that would raise debt limits for bankruptcy relief and...
        Blog

        Phil Bartlett to Step Down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission

        On September 15, 2026, Governor Janet Mills announced that Phil Bartlett will step down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC)...
        Published Works

        Jay McCormack and Michael Fee Co-Author AHLA Article on Skin Substitute Enforcement Trends

        Verrill Partners Jay McCormack and Michael Fee co-authored an article for the American Health Law Association's Fraud and Abuse Practice Group...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Health Care & Life Sciences Attorney Elpida Velmahos

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill is pleased to announce that Elpida Velmahos has joined the firm’s Health Care & Life Sciences Group as an...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Litigation & Trial Attorney Emma Pooler

        PORTLAND, Maine – Verrill is pleased to announce that Emma Pooler has joined the firm’s Litigation & Trial Group as an Associate, resident in...
        Published Works

        Four Verrill Attorneys Co-Author Massachusetts Trends and Developments Chapter for Chambers and Partners Child Relocation 2026 Guide

        Verrill attorneys Mary H. Schmidt, Rachel A. Deering, Hannah R. Zukoff, and Mariah G. Tappan co-authored the “Trends and Developments” chapter...
        Blog

        A New Protected Class in Maine: Holders of Final Protection Orders

        In the lead-up to Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, employers may be taking a closer look at how their policies and practices respond to...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Verrill Secures SJC Victory for Boston Legacy FC in White Stadium Litigation

        Verrill has secured a significant appellate victory for Boston Legacy FC in the litigation challenging the redevelopment of White Stadium in...