A Renaissance for Private-Employer Unions – Real or Fake News?
Depending on where you get your news, you might think that unionization at private employers is experiencing a drastic rise. Nearly every week, news articles highlight unionization efforts at high-profile companies like Starbucks, Amazon, and Mcdonald’s. Despite being only three-quarters of the way into FY22, union election petitions for FY22 have already exceeded the total…
How to Handle Freedom of Speech at Work
The end of the current session of the United States Supreme Court has seen the Court issue rulings on many hot-button political topics including gun control, abortion, immigration, and environmental protection laws. These rulings, along with the January 6th Commission’s ongoing public hearings, have created an environment of heightened political tension and stress. While the…
When is Paid Sick Leave Coming to Maryland?
During the most recent legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Time to Care Act. The big takeaway from the passage of this law: Maryland will, eventually, have a paid leave program for employees who need time off due to childbirth or serious health conditions. Unfortunately, the coverage of the law’s passage has created…
Are Your Employees Ready to Go Back to “Normal”?
Across the country, government mask mandates are being lifted, students are attending schools without masks, and people are beginning to resume activities that were curtailed when the Omicron variant was spreading like wildfire only a few short weeks ago. Many employers are watching these trends carefully as they make plans to resume, expand, or modify…
Is Hybrid Remote Work the New Normal?
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, no one could have predicted the ongoing transformation it would have on our home and work lives. This transformation is particularly obvious in how we talk about remote work and how many companies have adapted to, and in some cases embraced, remote work. Once a perk offered…
Recent Circuit Court Split Creates Confusion About Mealtime Pay
How do three Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals hear separate but factually identical cases, yet come to three distinct holdings? That is what happened recently when one set of facts with different plaintiffs was litigated in the Ninth, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuits. The result? A split in the circuits regarding when employers must pay for…
How Employers Can Help Ease Mental Health Issues Due to the Pandemic
As the pandemic creeps on into year three, many are noticing a significant deterioration in their mental health—either through an exacerbation of their existing mental health conditions or simply from exhaustion. Fortunately, all is not lost! There are several strategies that employers may implement to assist their employees through this difficult time, and some are…
UPDATE: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates — OSHA’s Mandate Struck Down
On September 9, 2021, President Biden directed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop a rule to increase the number of workers who have received a COVID-19 vaccination. Consistent with that direction, OSHA developed an Emergency Temporary Standard which would apply to employers with more than 100 employees. On November 4, 2021, OSHA…
Two-Timing Employees in the Work-from-Home Environment
Juggling two or more part-time jobs, or “moonlighting”, has always been the norm for many people struggling to make ends meet. This is especially true in the gig economy, with many people working on several platforms at once. However, recently, with the rise of the work-from-home trend, some full-time employees found a way to double…
When to Consider the Four-Day Workweek
In the midst of unprecedented numbers of job departures being dubbed “The Great Resignation,” many employers are seeking creative ways to retain or attract new talent. One hot topic in the discourse? The four-day workweek. Common for years among those in the healthcare profession, the four-day workweek is being discussed by employers in other sectors.…
