Blogs

Employment Law

Mini-COBRA Laws in Virginia, DC, and Maryland: What Small Business Employers and Benefit Managers Should Know

As small business employers and benefits managers, staying compliant with employment laws is a key part of your success. One area that deserves special attention is health insurance continuation coverage, specifically the mini-COBRA laws. While most of us are familiar with the federal COBRA law, which requires employers with 20 or more employees to offer…

September 12, 2024

Employment Law

Pay Transparency: Key Insights for Employers in the DMV

In today’s evolving workplace landscape, pay transparency has emerged as a critical topic for employers and employees alike. But what exactly is pay transparency, and why does it matter? Pay transparency involves the open sharing of information about compensation within an organization, including salary ranges, pay scales, and criteria for raises and bonuses. This blog…

July 25, 2024

Employment Law

OSHA Proposes New Heat Injury and Illness Protections for Workers

On July 2, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) gave notice of proposed rulemaking titled “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.” The proposed rules would for the first time set federal heat standards to protect the health and safety of U.S. workers. There are currently no federal OSHA…

July 17, 2024

Employment Law

New Virginia Higher Ed Laws: A Significant Shift in College Admissions

On July 1, 2024, Virginia ushered in a new era in higher education in the Commonwealth with the implementation of groundbreaking legislation that bans legacy preferences in college admissions. The move positions Virginia as a leader in the quest for a more equitable and inclusive admissions process. Understanding the New Legislation The new law, which…

July 8, 2024

Employment Law

With the Demise of the Chevron Doctrine, Will the FTC’s Ban on Non-Competes Survive Judicial Review?

On May 7, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) published its final Non-Compete Clause Rule (“Final Rule”) making it an “unfair method of competition,” in violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTC Act”), for employers to “enter into non-compete clauses with ‘workers’” (includes both “employees” and “independent contractors”) after the effective…

July 2, 2024

Employment Law

EEOC Doubles Enforcement Effort Against Employers in FY2023

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) recently released its FY 2023 Office of General Counsel (“OGC”) Annual Report reflecting the agency’s litigation efforts to enforce federal anti-discrimination laws for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023.It shows that the agency doubled the number of lawsuits filed against employers. The EEOC is responsible for enforcement…

April 10, 2024

Employment Law

What is a “Low Wage” Worker and Why It Matters to Virginia Employers

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) announced recently that the average weekly wage, which is used to define “low wage employee” in the Commonwealth would increase to $1,410 per week in 2024, up from $1,343 per week in 2023. Why might that matter if you are a Virginia employer? Since 2020, Virginia law…

February 7, 2024

Employment Law

When Stormy Weather Closes Your Business, Do You Still Have to Pay Your Employees?

For the first time in more than two years, the northern Virginia area was blanketed by a significant winter storm recently, with enough snow accumulation that many businesses made the decision to close for the day. Those office closures likely raised questions that many Virginia employers hadn’t thought about for a while: Do I have…

January 22, 2024

Employment Law

The Employee’s Handbook to Holiday Work

The holiday season often brings a surge in work hours, especially for those in the retail and service industries. This period, while potentially lucrative for both employers and employees, also brings with it questions about holiday pay, overtime, and legal rights. This article aims to address these concerns, offering clarity and some guidance to help…

December 14, 2023

Employment Law

NLRB Delays Start Date for New Joint Employer Rule

On October 26, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) issued a new rule, with an effective date of December 26, 2023, establishing the standard for determining joint employer status under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The NLRB’s new rule significantly expands the definition of “joint employment” under the NLRA. A more…

November 22, 2023