Taking Care of HR Business

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        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 20, 2016

        Oftentimes clients ask, "When we think an employee is high, can we fire him?" My answer is consistently the same, "That depends." It depends on a...

        by Roger A. Clement, Jr. on April 19, 2016

        "Can I be personally liable?" Directors, officers, and managers of business entities frequently ask that question of their attorneys. A recent...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 19, 2016

        So often we post about the affects of the legalization of marijuana (a.k.a. "pot") in the workplace, but today's post is a bit different; today we...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 13, 2016

        MaineBiz reports that yesterday U.S. Senator Angus King wrote a letter to the Office of Management and Budget voicing his concerns on the DOL's...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 6, 2016

        Yesterday, the Eighth Circuit issued an opinion in Morriss v. BNSF Railway Co., No. 14-3858 (April 5, 2016), rejecting the plaintiff's argument that...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 1, 2016

        Last month, a federal judge in the Eastern District of Michigan denied the U.S. Postal Service's Motion to Dismiss a claim of sex, military, and...

        March 31, 2016

        Interesting story that developed on Wednesday: some of the biggest names in U.S. women's soccer filed a wage discrimination claim with the EEOC,...

        March 30, 2016

        On March 29, 2016, the Supreme Court issued a one sentence decision in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association: "The judgment is affirmed by an...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on March 28, 2016

        Apparently it is going to be a lot less fun to work at Zenefits, a health insurance brokerage start-up, than it used to be. A month ago, David Sacks,...

        March 24, 2016

        We love boat cases! We also love it when our colleagues makes clever arguments, even if those arguments are a bit of a stretch. The casino ship...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on March 23, 2016

        On March 18, the CDC finally issued much-anticipated guidelines for the prescription of opioids in chronic pain management "outside of active cancer...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on March 17, 2016

        We laugh about employee engagement and productivity on the day after the Super Bowl; we joke about productivity on Black Friday; welcome today to a...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on March 17, 2016

        Father and Son and Baseball is like . . . well it's actually not like anything else, it is America. Have you seen #FamilyFirst and the publicity that...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on March 16, 2016

        Previously, we published a blog post on the DOL's 2015 proposal to more than double the threshold under which salaried exempt employees are eligible...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on March 10, 2016

        The last few weeks have been filled with filings and decisions in federal courts across the country regarding sexual orientation as a basis for a...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on March 10, 2016

        Yesterday, March 9, 2016, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed into law a bill that will require paid sick leave to be offered to an estimated...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on February 26, 2016

        Earlier this week the New Hampshire Supreme Court issued a decision in EEOC v. Fred Fuller Oil Company, Inc., finding that New Hampshire's...

        February 26, 2016

        As employment lawyers we have seen some pretty awful examples of behavior in the workplace. If we are involved, we are usually helping our clients...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on February 25, 2016

        Many of you are aware of the Medicare Secondary Payer Act, or MSP. It was enacted to stop cost-shifting from a third party who is responsible for...

        February 12, 2016

        Since its passing in 2010 the clarion call of Obamacare opponents was that the employer mandate would incentivize employers to cut hours so as to...

        February 9, 2016

        Hey Tex, when is a sailor not a sailor? According to the Fifth Circuit, when the sailor's primary duty is unloading cargo. When we New Englanders...

        February 4, 2016

        Update regarding an issue we've previously blogged about. The Eighth Circuit assumed without deciding that individuals can sue for retaliation or...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on February 3, 2016

        Last week American Greeting Corporation settled a wage and hour class action under the FLSA and California state wage and hour laws in Smith v....

        February 3, 2016

        Interesting employment law angle to Yahoo's announcement yesterday that it would explore "strategic alternatives," including a possible sale of some...

        February 3, 2016

        On January 29, 2016 the NLRB issued a decision in which it changed (under the guise of clarifying) one of the election rules for mail-ballot...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on January 29, 2016

        Today the EEOC announced proposed changes to the EEO-1 form that will affect federal contractors and all employers who employ over 100 individuals....

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on January 19, 2016

        On Friday, the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari in a case where it will determine "whether 'service advisors' at car dealerships are...

        January 19, 2016

        In September 2014, amid "deteriorating financial health" and a "desperate" financial situation, Atlantic City, New Jersey's Trump Taj Mahal filed for...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on January 14, 2016

        Recently, the National Labor Relations Board reviewed upscale grocer Whole Foods' policy within its General Information Guide ("GIG") which banned...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on January 12, 2016

        Last week, the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico issued a memorandum and order granting Tractor Supply Company's Motion to...

        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

        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...
        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...