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.
What’s Next: How to Respond to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Current Policies Surrounding Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Provisions
The Background: McLaren Macomb On February 21, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (“the Board”) decided McLaren Macomb , a case where a hospital offered severance pay to eleven permanently furloughed employees in exchange for the employees agreeing to sign a severance agreement. The severance agreements contained provisions that...
HR Power Hour with Sabine Gedeon
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Sabine Gedeon, Founder of She Leads Network and host of She Leads Now. This episode discusses how organizations can prepare the next generation of leaders. As the Founder of She Leads Network and...
HR Power Hour with Alan Casavant
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Alan Casavant, Mayor of Biddeford. This episode discusses how the city of Biddeford, Maine, as a public employer, moved to a four-day work week and the tips for other organizations considering the same...
HR Power Hour with Douglas Currier
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Douglas Currier, a Partner at Verrill. This episode discusses managing the practical and legal risks that difficult employees can bring to the workplace. Douglas began practicing law more than 30 years ago with...
HR Power Hour with Jen Serei
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Jen Serei, SHRM-CP, HR Partner at MP. This episode discusses useful tips and best practices for first-time managers, as well as helpful reminders for more seasoned managers. Jen Serei is an HR Partner...
The Speak Out Act: Key Points You Need to Know
With 2023 underway, employers should be mindful of new federal legislation affecting key provisions in their employment agreements. On December 7, 2022, President Biden signed into law the “Speak Out Act,” which prohibits enforcement of a pre-dispute nondisclosure clause or non-disparagement clause regarding claims of sexual assault or sexual...
Nondisclosure Provisions in Maine: Are Your Agreements Compliant?
In late 2022, a new Maine law took effect restricting the use and reach of nondisclosure provisions in Maine employment agreements. The new law, Nondisclosure Agreements in Employment , 26 M.R.S. § 599-C, is one of the most recent of similar state laws to be enacted that restrict an...
HR Power Hour with Melissa Denbow
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Melissa Denbow, President Community Experience Manager at Machias Savings Bank. This episode discusses the importance of relationship building through community engagement. Melissa started her career at Machias Savings Bank in October 1995 as...
HR Power Hour with Chuck Mollor
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Chuck Moller. This episode discusses the importance of psychological safety at work, including why it’s important and how you can help to build a more psychologically safe work environment for your employees. Chuck...
What You Need to Know About the FTC’s Proposed Non-Compete Ban
Today, January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) proposed a new rule that would ban companies from requiring non-compete agreements to be signed by employees and contractors (“Proposed Rule”). The FTC estimates that such a ban would affect 30 million Americans. The FTC’s reasoning behind the Proposed Rule...
What Employers Need to Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“ PWFA ”). Here is what you need to know about the law: When does it take effect? June 27, 2023 Who is covered by the law? Individuals who work for employers with 15 or...
HR Power Hour with Jeff Wozer- Digital Distraction
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Jeff Wozer. This episode discusses the effect screen time is having on productivity and proposed ways of combating digital distractions. Jeff Wozer is a writer, comedian and speaker having toured nationally for 20-plus...
December Annual Update: End of Year Tips for Employers: Compliance & Beyond
To conclude our monthly webinar series, three Verrill attorneys provide end of the year tips for employers regarding complex labor and employment matters. With busy schedules this holiday season, this month's webinar has been pre-recorded so you can watch whenever is best for you. Part One: Five Tips to...
HR Power Hour with Brett Barlow – Rethinking Payment Practices
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Brett Barlow. This episode discusses rethinking payment practices. Brett Harlow has over 25 years of experience leading SaaS businesses and consumer brands and is currently CEO of Everee, a fintech company that is...
HR Power Hour with Mary Axelsen – Change Leadership
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to WeMaax Consulting Founder & CEO Mary Axelsen. This episode discusses CARE Change Framework and the work that WeMaax Consulting does in the Change Leadership arena. Mary Axelsen is a former global HR Executive...
HR Power Hour with John Robertson – Leadership Tools in Crisis
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to John Robertson. This episode discusses various leadership tools in the face of crisis situations as well as evaluating probability before they occur. John Robertson is a workforce wellness expert and culture alignment specialist...
Pay Transparency Laws are on the Rise – What Employers Need to Know
Last week (November 1, 2022), New York City Local Law 59 came into effect. The law requires employers with four or more employees working in New York City (NYC) to publish salary ranges for every advertised job, promotion or transfer opportunity that could or will be performed in NYC...
Update Postings: EEOC Know Your Rights
The EEOC has issued a revised Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal poster (Revised 10/20). The poster is available here and should be posted as soon as possible. This document is revised and should replace the original poster that was issued on October 19. Some answers to Frequently...
HR Power Hour with David Jones – Happy People in the Right Position
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to David Jones . This episode discusses the importance of having happy people in the right positions. David Jones is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Talent Enterprise where he heads up business growth...
HR Power Hour with Elizabeth Johnston – Minimize Risks Related to Holiday Party Gatherings
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Verrill Attorney Elizabeth Johnston. This episode discusses minimizing risks relating to holiday party gatherings. Elizabeth Johnston handles a variety of employment matters including working with businesses of all sizes to ensure that their...
HR Power Hour with April Paradis – Investing in Women
On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to April Paradis, HR Specialist at Bank of America, about the work that Bank of America is doing to invest in women. This episode discusses the importance of attracting and retaining both female leadership...
Should You Be Paying Overtime to Your Office Staff?
Office workers who perform receptionist, secretarial, and other administrative tasks often are incorrectly classified as exempt from overtime pay because they receive a salary and have job titles such as "executive assistant." However, such employees will not necessarily be found exempt from the requirement to pay overtime merely because...
Double Check: COVID-19 Policy
While in March of 2020 , I believe many individuals hoped that by July of 2022 we would no longer be concerned with COVID-19 Policies, such, unfortunately, is not the case. Yesterday , the EEOC updated its long-standing guidance, What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the...
What Employers Need to Know About Access to Reproductive Care After Dobbs
The United States Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization , No. 19-1392 (June 24, 2022) overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, has led to a host of different responses from employers across the country—specifically those with employees in states that now ban...
How to Break Up With An Employee: 10 Tips for Avoiding Claims and Liability
As with other types of relationships, breaking up with an employee is seldom easy. And employee terminations result in more lawsuits than any other employment action. Employers should keep the following 10 tips in mind when handling employee terminations in order to reduce the risk of legal claims and...
Supreme Leak: NLRA Rights
For blog followers, you likely saw last week’s post reminding you to revisit your confidentiality policies in the wake of the leaking of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, as well as our follow-up piece concerning religious rights at work and steps to take...
Supreme Leak: Religion at Work
Over the last year, our society has navigated COVID-19 and rules concerning vaccination and masking. As a society and on this blog, we have discussed regularly the role religious freedoms play in the work environment—under the Constitution, Title VII, and state law. Today, however, it’s time to re-visit the...
News of Supreme Court Leak is a Good Reminder to Revisit Confidentiality Policies
If you have been on social media today (or yesterday) or picked up a newspaper or listened to the radio or watched television—really if you have consumed news in any format, you likely are aware that POLITICO obtained an initial draft majority opinion written by Samuel Alito in the...
“Mug-shots”: Are Employees’ risky beverage containers a cause for concern?
Prior to (and more so during) the pandemic, many individuals who found themselves working from home were limited in ways to express their uniqueness, their personalities, the things that made them, well, them. It started with fun backgrounds. Waves in the distance, a meeting in outer space, your favorite...
2021 LexisNexis “Workers’ Compensation Emerging Issues Analysis”
I just read a wonderful resource for anyone who has dealings with any aspect of workers’ compensation law. “Workers’ Compensation Emerging Issues Analysis”, the 2021 LexisNexis volume co-authored by Thomas A. Robinson and National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network member firms contains well-written articles on multiple topics in the workers&rsquo...
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