Category: Legislation
Despite Recent Challenges to Overtime Rule, Employers Should Continue Preparing for Implementation on December 1
On September 20, two lawsuits were filed in federal court seeking to stop the new overtime regulations from going into effect on December 1. One lawsuit was filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with a number of other business groups. The other lawsuit was filed by...
“The Writing is On the Wall”: Seventh Circuit Clears Up Any Misconceptions the Public May Have on the Court’s View on Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Late last week, the Seventh Circuit issued an opinion in Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College , in which it held that Title VII provides no redress for discrimination of the basis of sexual orientation. The Seventh Circuit is the first federal court of appeals court to rule on...
Maine’s Newest Employment Laws
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 not taken timely action on are law. Included in these 65 laws is L.D. 921, which (as a result of the Governor's failure to act...
Maine Labor Committee Rejects Right-to-Work Bill
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 Committee voted 7-6 to recommend that the full Legislature kill the bill. Right-to-work laws guarantee that employees who work in a unionized environment not...
Legislative Update: Maine’s “Retail Workers Bill of Rights”
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 in Augusta that could affect minimum standards as to pay and work schedules for Maine employers in the retail industry. Read more here...
Indiana Discrimination Bill: A Higher Law?
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 Religious Freedom Restoration Act has been described as allowing any individual or corporation to cite their religious beliefs as a defense when sued by...
“Tie Up” Your Employee Policies to Guard Against “Grey” Areas of Liability
Last week Representative Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives H.R. 901, "The Eliminating Pornography From Agencies Act," an Act with the purpose of prohibiting the accessing of pornographic web sites from federal computers and for other purposes. While the Act was likely introduced in response...
Manic Monday: Michigan Pre-Emptively “Tackles” the Unionized College Athlete Issue
On December 30, 2014, Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation (H.B. 6074) that excludes public college and university athletes in Michigan from the definition of "public employees" entitled to collectively bargain under Michigan law—thus effectively barring them from unionizing. The law's purpose was to ensure "that college athletes are students...
