Blogs

Employment Law

Mental Health Crisis Management for Employers

Employee mental health support is no longer just an option—it’s a necessity. With mental health challenges on the rise, employers must be prepared to handle crises effectively and compassionately. Managing mental health crises with sensitivity and compliance is a win-win not only benefiting affected employees and also safeguarding the employer from potential legal risks. This…

November 19, 2024

Employment Law

Courts Issue Mixed Rulings in Legal Challenges to FTC’s Ban on Non-Competes. What Should Employers Do Now?

Important updates on the status of the FTC’s Rule banning non-competes: In a further update to the litigation status of the FTC’s final rule banning employee non-competes, on October 18, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission filed a petition of appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit of the decision of the…

November 11, 2024

Employment Law

EEOC’s 2024 Litigation Has Focused on the ADA and PWFA

Recently, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that the agency had filed 110 lawsuits challenging unlawful employment discrimination practices in fiscal year 2024. The EEOC is responsible for oversight and enforcement of federal employment discrimination laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and…

November 7, 2024

Employment Law

Do Employees Have the Right to Federal Holidays Off?

Federal holidays are recognized national observances that, for many, play a significant role in American culture. They offer employees an opportunity to take a break from work, celebrate important moments, and spend time with family and friends. However, when it comes to employee rights and employer obligations surrounding time off on federal holidays, many misconceptions…

October 25, 2024

Employment Law

NLRB Adds “Stay-or-Pay” Provisions to the List of Employee Restrictions that Violate Federal Law

On October 7, 2024, National Labor Relation Board (NLRB) General Counsel (GC), Jennifer Abruzzo, issued a memorandum to NLRB field offices adding additional substance to the position on non-competes she outlined in her May 30, 2024, Memo, chiefly that “overbroad non-compete agreements are unlawful because they chill employees from exercising their rights under Section 7…

October 16, 2024

Employment Law

Employers: Be Careful What You Say About a Former Employee. Inflammatory Posts Can Result in a Charge of Retaliation

U.S. employers continue to face significant risks from claims of unlawful workplace retaliation under federal law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). To emphasize that point, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) most recent statistics show that it received more than 46,000 employee retaliation complaints…

October 9, 2024

Employment Law

Best Practices for Terminating Remote Workers in Virginia

The rise of remote work has fundamentally reshaped the modern workplace, offering unprecedented flexibility and access to talent across geographic boundaries. However, this shift introduces new challenges for employers, particularly when it comes to terminating remote employees. Let’s explore the legal considerations and best practices for terminating remote employees in Virginia, helping you navigate this…

October 2, 2024

Employment Law

Will Virginia’s New Massive Education Union Influence K-12 and College Labor Policies?

The recent news about the formation of a massive education union in Fairfax County, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., driven by the merger of several large labor groups, marks a significant moment for the state. This newly united labor front, which consists of more than 27,500 members, including teachers, teaching assistants, support staff, and even administrators,…

September 16, 2024

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