Blog Posts: Taking Care of HR Business
Visit the Full BlogHuman 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.
Massachusetts’ Salary Range Transparency Law: Key Requirements for Employers
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed into law An Act Relative to Salary Range Transparency (Chapter 141 of the Acts of 2024) on July 31, 2024. This law increases wage transparency requirements for employers with 25 or more employees. The law's provisions will roll out in stages starting in 2025...
Deadline Approaching for Federal Contractors to Object to Disclosure of EEO-1 Reports
Federal contractors have until December 10, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. to file written objections to the disclosure of their EEO-1 Type 2 Consolidated Reports in response to a recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. This deadline stems from a recent announcement by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance...
FLSA Salary Exemption Hike Set Aside Nationally: What to Do Now?
Earlier today, November 15, 2024, United States District Court Judge Sean D. Jordan of the Eastern District of Texas, granted summary judgment against the Department of Labor determining that the United States Department of Labor regulations expanding overtime eligibility to over four million workers went beyond the agency’s authority...
National Labor Relations Board Bans Captive Audience Meetings
On November 13, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a landmark decision in the case of Amazon Services LLC, banning so-called “captive audience meetings,” a tool regularly used by employers in response to union campaigns. This decision overturns the Board’s 76-year-old precedent set in Babcock & Wilcox...
Maine Employers: Paid FML Preparation
While Maine employers are still waiting for the Department of Labor to finalize regulations related to the recently instituted Paid FML program, there are steps that employers should take now. Specifically, employers should be aware that the Maine Department of Labor has made available the required poster informing employees...
Connecticut Employers: 2025 Paid Leave
Employers with employees in Connecticut need to be aware of Connecticut’s recently enacted revision to Public Act No. 24-8, which broadens the scope of paid sick leave requirements, making it applicable to a broader range of businesses and employees. Employers should review their current policies and bring them into...
What New England Employers Need to Know About Voting Leave Laws
In the midst of election season, New England employers must fully understand the voting leave laws in the jurisdictions in which they operate. Like so many employment laws, each state has its own regulations regarding time off to vote, ensuring that voters can participate in the democratic process without...
Mental Health in the Workplace
Recently, Verrill attorneys Liz Johnston and Erik Peters conducted a webinar designed to help employers comply with their responsibilities related to employee mental health matters and to provide actionable guidance and tips to help them foster a supportive work environment. Highlights/key takeaways included: A rundown of statistics and metrics...
Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers) Concerning Maine’s Paid FMLA Law
As we enter the fourth quarter and await the reveal of the state’s third iteration of revisions to the proposed rules governing the state’s Paid FMLA statute, what are some things all Maine employers (and employers outside of the state with Maine employees) should know about Maine’s recently enacted...
Key Takeaways for Maine Employers from DOL Final Rule Increasing Salary Thresholds for Exempt Employees
The U.S. Department of Labor recently issued a final rule that would increase the required salary thresholds for employees to be exempt from overtime requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The increases to salary thresholds are significant and will exceed several state salary thresholds—including Maine’s—that have typically...
HR Power Hour with Vicky Oliver
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Vicky Oliver. This episode discusses why women have left the workplace and ways in which employers can attract women back. Vicky Oliver is the a leading career development expert and the multi-best-selling author...
Updated Postings for Maine Employers
Employers in the State of Maine with fifty (50) or more employees should be mindful that the Maine Bureau of Labor has updated its poster for Veterans Benefits and Services. The poster is required for Maine employers with fifty (50) or more employees and is available here . Employers...
HR Power Hour with Linda Riddell
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Linda Riddell. This episode discuses in-work poverty, its challenges and how to aid employees in breaking down barriers that stand in the way of their progression out of poverty—and ultimately become more productive...
HR Power Hour with Dr. Anna Marie Frank
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Dr. Anna Marie Frank. This episode discusses how COVID has changed the way people work as well as how small changes in cognitive health can help employees be healthier and more productive at...
HR Power Hour with Colette Phillips
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Colette Phillips. This episode discusses how without an inclusive culture, an organization will never achieve true diversity or equity. Colette is President and CEO of Colette Phillips Communications as well as Founder and...
HR Power Hour with Jeremy Vesta
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Jeremy Vesta. This episode discuses addressing the hidden cost of insurance. James is Chief Financial Officer of Curally where he uses his expertise as an economist and his extensive business leadership background to...
HR Power Hour with Carla Fowler
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Carla Fowler, MD PhD. This episode discusses the top five fallacies of goal obtainment. Carla founded THAXA out of a passion for performance science, where the fields of strategy, productivity, and psychology intersect...
Department of Labor Releases Final Independent Contractor Status Rule
On Tuesday January 9, 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) published its final rule setting forth how worker classification (i.e., whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor) will be determined by the agency under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This issue is relevant to all industries...
HR Power Hour with Peter Gore
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Senior Government Relations Specialist Peter Gore . This episode discusses Maine’s paid FMLA program which the Maine legislature passed in 2023 which many have referred to as the broadest paid family medical leave...
Portland, ME Employers: Emergency Minimum Wage Ends at 12:15 p.m.
On January 11, 2024, at 12:15 p.m., Governor Janet Mills declared a state of emergency in Cumberland County as a result of the severe storm earlier in the week. The state of emergency will expire January 18, 2024, at 12:15. As Portland, Maine employers may recall, when the State...
Portland, Maine Employers: Emergency Minimum Wage
Yesterday, January 11, 2023, at 12:15 p.m., Governor Janet Mills declared a state of emergency in Cumberland County as a result of the severe storm earlier in the week. As Portland, Maine employers may recall, when the State issues a state of emergency, it triggers the emergency minimum wage...
HR Power Hour with James Cluskey
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to James Cluskey. This episode discusses how embracing pressure impacts performance outcomes. James is a former professional tennis player turned entrepreneur and private tennis coach to Sir Richard Branson. Since retiring from professional tennis...
HR Power Hour with Jermey Vesta
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Jeremy Vesta. This episode discuses addressing the hidden cost of insurance. James is Chief Financial Officer of Curally where he uses his expertise as an economist and his extensive business leadership background to...
HR Power Hour with Lori Wallace
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Lori Wallace. This episode discusses how many common interview practices have damaging effects on applicants and their ability to successfully present themselves in interviews. Lori is the Founder and CEO of Career Ecology...
HR Power Hour with Heather Hansen
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Heather Hansen. This episode discusses how accent bias effects how individuals process information and make decisions, both in the work environment and in life generally. Heather is the Founder of Global Speech Academy...
HR Power Hour with Dr. Keri Ohlrich
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Dr. Keri Ohlrich. This episode discusses the tools companies can use to better manage the challenging elements of the hybrid work environment. Dr. Keri Ohlrich is the CEO and co-founder of Abbracci Group...
HR Power Hour with Robert Brooks and Elizabeth Johnston
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Robert Brooks and Elizabeth Johnston . This episode discusses the top four NLRB actions of 2023 that employers should be mindful of and steps that they can take to guard against an unfair...
Maine Captive Audience Statute Requirements
For employers operating in New England, they are likely aware of Connecticut and New York’s recent captive audience statutes, but a quick re-cap on Maine’s recently enacted Captive Audience statute: Maine’s Captive Audience statute went into effect in September 2023, and includes a requirement that employers have postings in...
HR Power Hour with Jeremy Vesta
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Jeremy Vesta. This episode addresses the hidden costs of insurance and how employers can commit to helping their employees understand their health conditions, embrace different treatment options and change behaviors to positively influence...
HR Power Hour with Fernanda Anzek
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Fernanda Anzek. This episode discusses the effect “Quiet Cutting” has on DEI programs. Fernanda is Managing Director, HR Operations for Insperity where she leads teams that support small businesses with human resources and...
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