Taking Care of HR Business

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        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...

        January 12, 2016

        On Monday, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in a case that could significantly inhibit public unions' abilities to collect dues from...

        January 11, 2016

        Well, this just got interesting. Tracking a position it took last summer in an agency decision involving a federal employee, the EEOC recently filed...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on January 11, 2016

        Last week, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed an Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission holding that an employer was liable for...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on January 6, 2016

        Last week Judge Joseph N. Laplante of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire issued a decision in Posteraro v. RBS...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on January 6, 2016

        Loyal blog readers may recall our post last August reporting on an Ohio company that required its workers to swipe into and out of the restroom at...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on December 23, 2015

        Last week, a Massachusetts state court ruled on a motion for summary judgment finding that an all-girls Catholic School (Fontbonne Academy in Milton,...

        December 21, 2015

        Dear reader, the powers that be at Blog HQ have decreed that all posts between now and next Friday adhere to a holiday theme. So while you're...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on December 21, 2015

        In the holiday song that I most often picture sung by the woman portrayed in Madonna's Material Girl, this year my mind shifted away from diamond...

        December 18, 2015

        If you have had the feeling that the creators and enforcers of the ACA speak with forked hoof, just see how the Federal Government speaks about...

        December 17, 2015

        When was the last time you reviewed the "minimum lifting requirements" in your job descriptions? In several cases this year, courts have looked...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on December 15, 2015

        Because of how often we hear from clients regarding requests for "emotional support" animals to accompany employees to work, we figured a refresher...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on December 15, 2015

        We're all familiar with the holiday tune that recounts Grandma's unfortunate encounter with Santa and his reindeer. She's found the next day with...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on December 10, 2015

        Debbie Friedman's "The Latke Song" has a wonderful message regarding remembering those who are less fortunate than ourselves during the holiday...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on December 9, 2015

        Last year we brought you a lively selection of labor and employment-related tips insofar as my true love gifted me presents (or failed to gift said...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on December 9, 2015

        As Jose Feliciano wishes us a Merry Christmas from the bottom of his heart, it is important that we as employers recognize that in order to maintain...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on December 3, 2015

        In the wake of the San Bernardino shooting, less than a week after the Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado Springs, news reports show that in the...

        by Douglas P. Currier on November 24, 2015

        As most employers know by now, the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") has proposed amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act's ("FLSA") "white collar"...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on November 20, 2015

        While this blog does attempt to bring humor to employment law, we by no means make light of the difficult issues that corporations are faced with...

        November 10, 2015

        Do you want your employees to work during working hours? Do you want your employees to keep confidential information private? Do you have policies...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on November 10, 2015

        You, like I, may not have been up-to-date on Methadone's street names—but now you are. After that brief (but important) education, we turn to why...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on October 21, 2015

        Last month a group of individuals filed a class action lawsuit accusing the former H.J. Heinz Co. (now Kraft Heinz) of breaching an agreement the...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on October 15, 2015

        Earlier this week I found myself in a car dealership in the middle of the day watching daytime television and waiting for a ride; Wendy Williams was...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on October 6, 2015

        My four-year-old spent the vast majority of the weekend publically announcing (louder than her grandparents and I would have preferred) "excuse me I...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on October 6, 2015

        Yesterday the Supreme Court refused to grant certiorari in Yeager v. FirstEnergy Generation Corp., No. 14-1302 (cert. denied 10/5/2015), the case we...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on October 2, 2015

        Recently, New Mexico employer Presbyterian Healthcare Services successfully defended a claim of disability discrimination after terminating a...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on October 1, 2015

        While normally EEO-1 reports have a filing deadline of September 30 (yes that was yesterday), this year the EEOC Joint Reporting Committee extended...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on September 30, 2015

        Yesterday marked the end of the Spring/Summer 2016 fashion shows in Milan. Some of next year's fashion has been described a "lyrical nerdiness,"...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on September 30, 2015

        My Facebook news feed blew up last week with reaction to Martin Shkreli's company, Turing's, 5,000% increase in the price of the anti-parasitic drug...

        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

        SEC’s Proposed “Reg Crypto”: What Founders Need to Know

        Startup founders and emerging-growth companies have a number of options for raising capital under the federal securities laws, including Regulation D...
        Blog

        After 45 Years, the IRS Speaks on DCAP Nondiscrimination Testing – And It’s Good News

        Employers that provide a Dependent Care Assistance Program will be pleased to learn that for the first time in 45 years, the IRS has issued guidance...
        Media Mentions

        Robert Keach Discusses Bankruptcy Auction Strategy in Law360

        Verrill attorney Robert Keach spoke with Law360 article examining the complex bankruptcy auction process that resulted in the sale of 23 summer...
        Media Mentions

        Martha Gaythwaite Featured in Portland Press Herald Coverage of Sig Sauer Trial Victory

        Verrill attorney Martha Gaythwaite was highlighted in media coverage of a federal trial in Bangor involving firearm manufacturer Sig Sauer. As...
        Media Mentions

        Law360 Quotes Robert Keach on Senate Bill Affecting Small Business Restructurings

        Verrill attorney Robert Keach was recently quoted in a Law360 article discussing federal legislation that would permanently restore the $7.5 million...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        SAFEs and Preferred Stock – Key Deal Terms Every Founder Should Know

        SAFEs Before negotiating a term sheet for preferred stock, many early-stage companies, particularly at the seed stage, first raise capital through...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Business Restructuring and Insolvency Attorney Nimra Tariq

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill is pleased to announce that Nimra Tariq has joined the firm’s Business Restructuring and Insolvency Group as an...
        Media Mentions

        Robert Keach Provides Commentary on First Brands Restructuring in Law360

        Verrill attorney Robert Keach was quoted in the Law360 article, "First Brands' Ch. 11 Plan Revives Angst Over Admin Claims," discussing First Brands...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Construction Attorney Cassie Dufon

        PORTLAND, Maine – Verrill is pleased to welcome Cassie Dufon to the firm’s Construction Group as an Associate, resident in the firm’s Portland...
        Press Releases

        Verrill’s Wide-Ranging Private Wealth Law Practice Recognized in 2026 Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide

        BANGOR and PORTLAND, Maine and BOSTON, Mass. – Verrill attorneys Kenneth P. Brier, Anya F. Endsley, Kurt E. Klebe, Mary McQuillen, Nathaniel S....
        Blog

        Update on Status of Maine Packaging EPR

        In December 2024, Verrill published a blog post, Unwrapping Maine's Gift to the Environment: A New Packaging Stewardship Program Set to Launch in...
        Blog

        Voluntary Benefits Move into the ERISA Litigation Crosshairs

        Employee-paid accident, critical-illness, cancer, and hospital-indemnity insurance have long occupied a quiet corner of employee benefit plan...