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…
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…
How to Hire and Retain Employees During the Great Resignation
For months, employers have been hearing about the Great Resignation, the term coined for the large number of employees suddenly retiring, quitting, or changing career paths. The Department of Labor has now released numbers for October 2021 showing just how large an impact that the Great Resignation has had. In October 2021, 4.2 million employees…
Employer Alert: OSHA Rules on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
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…
Does Back to School Mean Back to Work or Quarantining?
Prior to the pandemic, for most employers, children going back to school was a cause forcelebration. With children on a regular routine, working parents’ availability became moreroutine and, outside of holiday periods with school closures, fewer vacations were scheduled. For business owners, this created a level of predictability for scheduling, which was desirable forobvious reasons.…
No, HIPAA Does Not Prevent Employers from Asking About Vaccination Status
As businesses have begun mandating vaccinations for employees and customers, many have heard a common response, in one form or another, “You can’t ask me that because of HIPAA.” In written form, these responses often invoke the protection of HIPPA, which is not a law. (These responses often echo the statements of certain elected officials,…
