Taking Care of HR Business

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        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 24, 2015

        While we often remind employers that complaints about on-the-job stress could be a reportable event to a workers' compensation carrier, we do not...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 18, 2015

        Earlier this month, Maine's highest court, the Law Court, held that Governor LePage's veto attempts came too late—meaning that 65 laws which he had...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 18, 2015

        Yesterday the NLRB issued a ruling in the Northwestern football players' attempt to unionize. While last year the Chicago office had issued a ruling...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 13, 2015

        Danny Tanner may have some words of advice right now, but we think that the more apt advice can be found in previous blog posts warning employers of...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 13, 2015

        On Monday, Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV of the District of Massachusetts entered judgment in favor of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., after a five-day...

        by Robert Laplaca on August 7, 2015

        Last month, the FTC issued new "guidance" on data security for companies that collect, store, and use consumer data. This guidance "summarizes the...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 28, 2015

        Let us frost your day with a tasty treat—an arbitration decision out of Ohio, In re First Student, Inc. What is sweet about this arbitration you...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 27, 2015

        Earlier this month, a California federal judge certified a class-action lawsuit of approximately 62,000 Abercrombie & Fitch employees who claim...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 21, 2015

        Last week we posted about the DOL's recent interpretation of workers' status as employees versus independent contractors. Even if your company does...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 13, 2015

        While many of us feel like prisoners to our cell phones (not to be confused with prisons you can buy for your cell phone or companies that appear to...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 7, 2015

        The answer is fairly obvious: don't refer to someone as having a Jezebel Spirit. If this happens, however, and an employee can't help but make the...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on June 24, 2015

        On Monday, jurors awarded Plaintiffs Jack Lowe and Dennis Reynolds $2.25 million dollars in a GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act) action...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on June 17, 2015

        Our parents consistently told us honesty was the best policy. Being honest with the people you interact with, whether, socially, romantically, or...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on June 4, 2015

        As we near Father's Day, Ferguson v. Fairfield Caterers, Inc., serves as an appropriate case to remind employers of the many facets of a retaliation...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on June 1, 2015

        Today the Supreme Court issued a decision in the highly anticipated case of EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch. Background on the case is available, as...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on May 13, 2015

        Last week a class action was filed against restaurant chain Dave & Buster's Inc. accusing the restaurant of decreasing employee hours to avoid...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on May 13, 2015

        New England administrative agencies and courts have sprung into spring with a litany of action last week that will affect New England employers....

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on May 7, 2015

        Maine will not become the first state in the Northeast to pass a right-to-work law. Yesterday, law makers in Augusta on the Legislature's Labor...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on May 6, 2015

        Wage payment and the laws that regulate it are important to your business. Making sure you can cover payroll each month is extremely important to...

        by Robert Laplaca on May 6, 2015

        Why are we doctors or lawyers or other such professionals? We're analytical and creative, persistent and interpersonal. Where did we get these...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 30, 2015

        Earlier this week an arbitrator ordered that three performers who wore character costumes in the "Festival of the Lion King" at Disney's Animal...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 28, 2015

        For all our friends and colleagues in the hospitality and retail sectors of the Maine economy, please be mindful of two pending pieces of legislation...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 23, 2015

        Late last month we posted on Indiana's "Religious Freedom" bill. Since then, the bill has been amended and states (including Maine) with similar...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 20, 2015

        Earlier this month, the Sixth Circuit issued an en banc decision in the EEOC v. Ford Motor Co. matter concerning the ADA and telecommuting; finding...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 20, 2015

        Last week, the District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana denied, in part, the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System's...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 9, 2015

        On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ruled that the EEOC does not have to identify any specifically aggrieved...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on April 1, 2015

        Late last year we posted on the NLRB's finalized rules governing union election procedures which shortened the time period for employers to educate...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on March 26, 2015

        Yesterday the Supreme Court issued its much-anticipated opinion on the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in Young v. UPS vacating the Fourth Circuit's...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on March 25, 2015

        By now you've likely heard about the "Indiana Discrimination Bill" that passed through the Indiana legislature on Monday after a vote of 63-31. The...

        by Robert Laplaca on March 20, 2015

        It doesn't matter whether you know a basketball from a hockey puck or a three-point play from a five course meal, every March, office works across...

        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...