As COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease, many employers are navigating the best path forward for their business to ensure we keep our communities healthy while also protecting against potential litigation. Employers and employees are asking many questions about their rights and thoughtful comprehensive planning and policies are necessary. Employers have questions about whether they are
Union organizing is down as compared to previous years, but that does not mean employers should believe that support for labor unions has decreased. NLRB records indicate that the number of representation petitions filed in 2020 is dramatically down from each of the previous four years. This reduction in representation petitions can be attributed to
When COVID-19 began its pernicious spread, causing Americans to lock down and employers to close or curtail their workplaces, lawyers were busy advising clients on required leaves of absence, the eligibility of laid-off employees for unemployment compensation and other paid benefits, as well as other legal issues associated with closing a business or sending a
We are all waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine. When we have a vaccine, can an employer require that applicants and employees be vaccinated against COVID-19? Employers have a legitimate desire to keep their workplaces safe and to protect their employees from contracting COVID-19 in the workplace. Phyllis Karasov and Dan Ballintine discuss the practical and legal issues associated with an employer mandatory vaccination program.
Continue Reading To Require Vaccines or Not: That is the Question
Employers are legally required to make their workplaces “safe” for their employees and customers. What does “safe” mean, given that no employer can guarantee a virus-free workplace? What are the rules on screening employees, taking temperatures, and refusing to allow employees showing symptoms of COVID-19 into the workplace? This session will talk about how to
Phyllis Karasov and Dan Ballintine discuss the matters employers need to consider when re-opening businesses after the Covid-19 shutdowns. Recalling only some employees, screening employees before they enter the workplace and dealing with employees who refuse to return to work are among the issues discussed.
The Larkin Hoffman
Larkin Hoffman employment law specialists Phyllis Karasov and Dan Ballintine answer some of the tough questions employers face under the new Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (“FFCRA”) in our latest COVID-19 Briefing series podcast. Under the FFCRA, employers with fewer than 500 employees must provide paid leave to employees who cannot work due to pandemic-related
Over the past decade or so, more and more employers have purchased employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) through their agents. In general, EPLI provides employers with coverage, usually for both defense costs and damages potentially awarded in cases involving claims of discrimination or harassment by employees, overtime, and other allegedly unfair employment practices. At first
In the face of the ever-evolving world of social media, employers face a myriad of challenging issues relating to their employees’ use of their own, personal sites, such as Facebook and blogs. These issues include how to handle employees who post information about the employer, how to deal with employees who use sites to harass
For several years, employers have been uncertain whether discrimination based upon sexual orientation is illegal under federal law. Although many states, including Minnesota, have enacted laws prohibiting such discrimination by employers located within their jurisdiction, many have not, leaving federal law as the only source for potential protection in such states. In three cases argued