Blogs

Employment Law

Virginia Expands Non-Compete Restrictions: What Employers Need to Know About the July 1, 2026 Changes

Virginia’s 2026 non-compete law changes expand employee protections and create new compliance risks for employers. Learn how the July 1 amendments affect severance, enforcement, civil remedies, and what businesses should review now.

August 6, 2026

Employment Law

Employment Law Landmines for Federal Contractors

Federal contractors operate in one of the most heavily regulated employment environments in the country. In addition to traditional employment laws, contractors must navigate obligations tied to federal contracts, agency oversight, and specialized whistleblower protections. Because of this layered regulatory framework, workplace issues that might be routine in other industries can quickly escalate into litigation,…

June 29, 2026

Employment Law

Why Employers Often Choose to Settle FLSA Claims — Even When They Have Defenses

When employers are sued under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the initial reaction is often to fight the claim on principle. Many employers believe they complied with the law, paid employees fairly, and did nothing wrong – and, in many cases, they may have valid legal defenses. Even so, employers frequently choose to resolve…

January 21, 2026

Employment Law

So You Received a DOL Wage & Hour Audit Notice – What’s Next?

Receiving a notice from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division can be unsettling for any employer. While some audits are routine, others can quickly expand into broader investigations and, in some cases, lead to private lawsuits under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). How you respond in the early stages of…

January 20, 2026

Employment Law

Five Reasons to Update Your Employee Handbook in 2025

An employee handbook is a crucial tool for a business to communicate its policies, procedures, and expectations, and to ensure legal compliance. However, employee handbooks need to be reviewed and updated regularly to achieve these objectives. Here are five reasons to update your employee handbook in 2025: In addition, as workforces increase in numbers, businesses…

January 13, 2025

Employment Law

Avoiding Improper Employee FLSA Classifications

In a prior post, I discussed the five “white-collar” exemptions to the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (“FLSA”) minimum wage and overtime pay requirements. This post addresses the consequences of improperly classifying employees as exempt, identifies common classification mistakes, and offers suggestions and recommendations to ensure proper classification. Consequences of Improper Classification The ramifications of improperly classifying…

June 26, 2023

Employment Law

A Practical Guide to FLSA Exemptions

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), which applies to nearly all private-sector employers in the United States, establishes an important distinction between (1) non-exempt (a.k.a. hourly) workers, who are subject to the FLSA’s minimum wage and overtime requirements, and (2) exempt (a.k.a. salaried) workers, who are exempt from such requirements. The most common FLSA…

June 14, 2023

Employment Law

What if Your Employee Refuses to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

In light of recent directives from the Biden Administration, an increasing number of employers with COVID-19 vaccine mandates will be faced with the question of what to do if an employee refuses to get vaccinated. Vaccine Mandates In July 2021, President Biden announced vaccination requirements for federal government employees and called on the private sector…

September 16, 2021

Employment Law

The Risks of Engaging Foreign Independent Contractors

In today’s global economy, it has become increasingly common for companies based in the United States to engage workers who live in other countries to perform services as independent contractors. This practice has become even more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic with the broad expansion of remote work. Companies can save money hiring independent contractors…

May 3, 2021

Employment Law

Can Employers Require Employees to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine foretells a return to normalcy (or some semblance of normalcy) in the workplace and beyond. As the vaccine becomes more widely available, many employers are grappling with the question of whether they can require employees to get vaccinated. The answer is yes, but with some limitations. Essentially, employers can…

January 15, 2021