The novel coronavirus has reached Connecticut. Employers are facing decisions many have never faced before, such as implementing widespread telecommuting measures or even temporarily shutting down business. There are countless employment law questions that arise from this fluid public health emergency. Here are a few issues to keep in mind as you decide how to […]
Starting May 1, 2020, all employers will be required to use a new I-9 Form, the form used to verify an employee’s eligibility to work in the United States. You must use the form with edition date 10/21/2019. The date appears in the lower left-hand corner of the form. Employers may switch to the new form immediately, […]
In a rare bi-partisan move, just before the Christmas break Congress passed a spending bill for 2020 that included a repeal of the so-called Cadillac tax. The tax, which was an excise tax on costly health plans, was due to go into effect on January 1, 2022, after a number of delays as to its […]
Back in March 2019, we advised that the U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that would change the minimum salary threshold for the so-called “white collar exemptions.” On September 24, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor issued its long awaited final rule on overtime. The final rule revises the earnings thresholds used to exempt executive, […]
Municipal and Board of Education employers may have recently received an email from the State Comptroller reminding them that the deadline to comply with new legislation requiring submission of certain information regarding employee health plans to the State is fast approaching. Pursuant to Section 352 of the Budget Implementer (Public Act 19-117), not later than […]
Late Friday, Connecticut joined neighboring states New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island and became the latest state to pass a paid leave bill. Governor Lamont has signaled he will sign the measure when it reaches his desk. The bill makes sweeping changes to current Connecticut FMLA laws, although the benefits would not become available […]
Last week the CHRO released its case data for FY 2018. Overall, the numbers do not dramatically differ from FY 2017. However, perhaps not surprisingly given the media coverage of the viral #MeToo movement beginning in October 2017, some notable increases emerged. The increase in the overall number of complaints filed in FY 2018 rose […]
The flu cost U.S. employers an estimated $21 billion in lost productivity last year. The 2018-2019 flu season is just beginning. What should employers do to avoid crippling productivity? One option is requiring each employee to be vaccinated each year against influenza. This option is very effective at limiting the impact of flu in the workplace, but it […]
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued new FMLA Notice and Certification forms for use by employers subject to federal FMLA requirements. The DOL is required to update these forms every three years under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980. The previous forms expired on May 31, 2018, and had been extended monthly until the […]
The Supreme Court on Monday, in a 5-4 decision in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, No. 16–285 (U.S. May 21, 2018) (consolidated cases), ruled that companies can use arbitration clauses in employment contracts to prohibit workers from banding together to take legal action over workplace issues. The Court’s decision could affect some 25 million employment contracts. Writing […]
