The Department of Labor recently proposed new regulations designed to implement and interpret the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, which amended and expanded the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”). The amendments expand military caregiver leave and incorporate a special eligibility provision for airline flight crew members. As set forth in the DOL’s informational notice, […]
The paid sick leave law (Senate Bill 913, Public Act 11-52) is set to become effective on January 1, 2012. The law will make Connecticut the first state to mandate paid sick leave for employees. Employers are well advised to become familiar with the law even if they already provide greater paid time off than […]
In follow up to our previous post on April 13, 2011, the proposed rule to require employers covered by the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”) to post workplace notices describing employees’ rights under the NLRA has been delayed into 2012. The stated purpose of the proposed rule is to inform employees of their rights to form, join, or […]
It is no secret that most employers attempt to manage the risk of litigation through the use of employee separation agreements. A recent Second Circuit decision serves as a valuable reminder of the importance of drafting separation agreements which will stand up to attack. Earlier this month, in Ridinger v. Dow Jones & Co., the Second […]
Effective July 1, 2011, all cases before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities Office of Public Hearing were suspended, see pdf, as the Governor failed to appoint new referees for the term beginning July 1, 2011. To date, new referees have yet to be appointed. This all comes as a result of Connecticut’s current budget […]
On Monday, the United States Supreme Court issued its much anticipated decision in Wal-Mart v. Dukes. As expected, the decision was a victory for the retail giant. The Court denied the plaintiffs the right to proceed as a class on the grounds that the class failed to meet the commonality requirement, since the action was based […]
In addition to the paid sick leave law which we’ve been closing following as its made its way through the General Assembly, a new law affecting employers which will make “gender identity or expression” a new protected category passed the General Assembly this weekend and is heading to the Governor’s desk. Few employers will be […]
The paid sick leave bill before the Connecticut legislature passed the House on Saturday. It will now reach Governor Malloy’s desk for signature. As he is expected to sign, the bill will become law on January 1, 2012.
United States Senate bill, S.241 on the table this year proposes to expand the whistleblower protections of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (known as the McCaskill Amendment of the Act) to employees of employers who receive any federal funds—not just stimulus funds. The McCaskill Amendment protects employees of private contractors and state and local […]
On Wednesday, the State Senate narrowly (18-17) passed the bill requiring employers of fifty or more to provide paid sick leave to employees. This puts the act one step closer to passage. It heads to the House of Representatives next. However, the bill has been amended. In its current form, it applies only to “service […]
