Taking Care of HR Business

A blog from the attorneys of Verrill

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More Madness: Catch Up With NCAA Happenings

While there’s no denying March Madness brings the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) considerable attention, the Association has been the subject of significant press over the last year for several hot-button employment-related issues. First, there has been ongoing discussion concerning name, image, and likeness (NIL) issues. In February 2021...
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HR 2116 and What You Need to Know About Hairstyle Discrimination

On March 18, the United States House of Representatives passed HR 2116 by a vote of 235-to-189. The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act (a/k/a CROWN Act) , would restrict discrimination on the basis of hair texture or style in Federally Assisted Programs, Housing Programs...
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BREAKING: The Supreme Court Blocks OSHA COVID Vaccine/Testing Rule (NFIB v. OSHA) and Allows the Healthcare (Medicare/Medicaid) Vaccine Rule (Biden v. Missouri) to Take Effect

In NFIB v. OSHA , the Court focused its decision on OSHA’s emergency temporary standards which require the Secretary to show (1) “that employees are exposed to grave danger from exposure to substances or agents determined to be toxic or physically harmful or from new hazards, and (2) that...
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Attention Portland Employers: Updates on Mask Mandate, Hazard Pay

On Monday, Portland City Councilors took two significant actions that affect employers in Portland, Maine. First, the Council repealed an emergency order from March 2020, eliminating the hazard pay provision set forth in the city’s minimum wage ordinance. Second, the Council enacted a city-wide indoor mask mandate affecting most...
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2021 Employment Law Update: Part 12 – Tips and Trends for 2021 and 2022

In 2021, due to the ongoing pandemic, the Employment & Labor Group hosted their monthly Annual Update seminars virtually this year. For the final presentation of the series, five Verrill attorneys provide us with short video segments, detailing some of the top trends of 2021 and ways companies and...
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Myth Buster: Employers, Vaccine Information, and HIPAA

With the nation’s ongoing focus on COVID-19 vaccinations, you may be hearing information—and misinformation—about your obligations under HIPAA, the federal Health Information Portability and Accountability Act. In this segment of Myth Busters , we address some common misconceptions about HIPAA and its applicability to employers and employee health information...
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HR Power Hour with Humza Khan – First Five Steps for DE&I

On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to Humza Khan, founder of Inclusion Maine, about all things diversity, equity and inclusion. This episode discusses the foundation of building a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program and the first five steps any organization...
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HR Power Hour with Robert Brooks- What's Covered? COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

On this episode of HR Power Hour, join Verrill attorney Tawny Alvarez as she talks to fellow Verrill labor and employment attorney Robert Brooks , about vaccine mandates at work. This episode discusses how the government has authority to mandate vaccines at work, how to implement a vaccine mandate...
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What Does The Proposed Federal Minimum Wage Mean For My Business?

On July 22, 2021 the U.S. Department of Labor proposed a rule titled “Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors” [1] formalizing the Biden Administration’s Executive Order 14026. The rule calls for federal contractors to pay their workers $15/hour and tipped workers $10.50/hour beginning on January 30, 2022. Both...
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Federal Vaccine Mandates – What We Know and What We Don’t

On September 9, President Biden announced plans to require that federal workers, federal contractors, and employees of employers with 100 or more employees are vaccinated or tested weekly for COVID-19. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force have been tasked with drafting regulations...
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Employers Check Your Handbooks: New NLRB General Counsel Sets Course

On August 12, 2021 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Abruzzo published her first memo setting forth the NLRB’s priorities. The memo identifies recent cases where the Board overruled past legal precedent in addition to noting several areas as requiring careful examination. One of the doctrinal shifts the...
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This Week's Show: Beth Smith – What’s Covered? Workers’ Compensation 101

On Saturday, August 7, Tawny Alvarez, Verrill attorney and co-host of HR Power Hour, interviewed fellow Verrill attorney Elizabeth Smith for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Tawny and Beth discuss pre-existing injuries, emotional wellness, stress, a skiing accident—are they covered by workers’ compensation? Beth has...
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Connecticut Employers Take Note – Cease Seeking Past Pay Information

Big changes are coming to Connecticut employers and with it, many organizational hiring practices with the passage of HB Number 6380. HB Number 6380 limits the disclosure of wage information from past positions. Currently, Connecticut employers are prohibited from asking (or directing a third party to ask) about an...
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This Week's Show: New Tools to Coach, Counsel, and Cheer

On Saturday, July 17, David Ciullo, co-host of HR Power Hour, interviewed Christopher Lee, the Chief Human Resources Officer for William & Mary, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, David and Chris discuss how Leaders need new tools to coach, counsel, and cheer their teams...
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This Week's Show: COVID-19 and Return to Work

On Saturday, July 10, Tawny interviewed Emily Waddell, Associate Attorney in Verrill's Employment & Labor Group, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Tawny and Emily discuss returning to work and COVID-19. Emily provides tailored legal solutions to support her client’s human capital and organizational objectives...
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This Week's Show: Innovation and Leadership Skills Needed in 2021 and Beyond

On Saturday, July 3, David Ciullo, co-host of HR Power Hour, interviewed Ryan Estis, national speaker, consultant, coach, and advisor , for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, David and Ryan discuss innovation and leadership skills needed in 2021 and moving forward. Ryan understands the challenges...
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This Week's Show: Wellness for Modern Teams

On Saturday, June 26, Tawny interviewed Mike Vien, CEO and Co-founder of Wallit, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Tawny and Mike discuss wellness for modern teams. Mike Vien is the CEO and co-founder of Wallit, an enterprise wellness platform for modern teams. For more...
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OSHA Issues Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare Settings

Earlier today (June 10, 2021), OSHA issued COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) Subpart U applicable to healthcare settings. While OSHA has indicated that future guidance may be provided for other industries, today’s guidance is limited to the healthcare setting. The first question: Does the ETS apply to your organization...
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Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Forms

As many readers know, on May 28, 2021, An Act Providing for Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave was passed. The Act creates a fund for the Commonwealth to reimburse eligible employers who provide employees with COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave. This statute provides that between May 28, 2021...
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This Week's Show: Change Leadership

On Saturday, June 5, Tawny interviewed Mary Axelsen, WeMaax Consulting Founder & CEO, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Tawny and Mary discuss CARE Change Framework and the work that WeMaax Consulting does in the Change Leadership arena. Mary comes with 20 years of experience...
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This Week's Show: Navigating the Medical Minefield Today

On Saturday, June 5, David Ciullo, co-host of HR Power Hour, interviewed Dr. Shantanu Nundy , Chief Medical Officer of Accolade, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, David and Dr. Nundy discuss how to navigate the medical minefield of today. Shantanu is a physician, entrepreneur...
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Public Accommodation Laws and Vaccination Inquiries

Last week, the EEOC provided updated COVID-19 guidance to employers on vaccines and vaccine incentives in the employment realm. One area, however, in which the agencies has been silent is in the public accommodation space and what organizations can/must/should do to protect themselves and their employees from claims of...
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ICE Extends I-9 Compliance Flexibility

Those responsible for employee onboarding can breathe a sigh of relief after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week announced that they would extend flexibilities that were instituted last year as a result of COVID-19. Specifically, the announcement extends the agency’s previous rules until August 31, 2021. The rule...
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This Week's Show: Identifying Impairment in the Workforce

On Saturday, May 29, Tawny interviewed Scot Mattox, CEO of Dirigo Safety, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Tawny and Scot discuss identifying impairment in the workforce. Scot Mattox retired in September 2013 as a Sergeant with the Portland Police Department after 26 years in...
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