On March 8, 2024, a Texas federal district court vacated the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “the Board”) 2023 joint employer rule (“2023 Rule), and restored the 2020 joint employer rule (“2020 Rule”).

As we previously reported, the NLRB proposed the 2023 Rule for determining joint employer status under the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”).… Continue Reading

On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, a federal judge enjoined the enforcement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”) against the state of Texas. Judge James Wesley Hendrix determined that a proxy voting rule in place during the COVID-19 pandemic violated the Quorum Clause of the United States Constitution. The rule allowed members of the House of Representatives to vote by proxy during the pandemic, meaning a member could vote by delegated proxy without being physically present.… Continue Reading

On Monday, February 5, a Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a ruling that Dartmouth College basketball players are employees of the school, allowing them to vote on unionizing. The NLRB’s Boston Regional Director, Laura Sacks, issued her opinion after all 15 members of the Dartmouth men’s basketball team signed a petition on September 13, 2023 to be represented by the Service Employees International Union, Local 560, a union which already represents some of the school’s employees.… Continue Reading

As class action attorneys continue to target wellness programs and tobacco user surcharges, plan sponsors must be mindful of the complex rules governing these common plan features. Ballard Spahr employee benefits attorneys Finn Pressly and Uchenna Osagiede will break down what employer-sponsored medical plans need to know about these programs and will provide practical steps to help ensure compliance.… Continue Reading

Non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants have drawn intense scrutiny from the federal government, as well as in several states, causing businesses to consider the enforceability of their agreements and how to protect their businesses. Jay Zweig recently sat down with Matt Crossman of the AccelPro Employment Law podcast to discuss the keys to effectively drafting and enforcing these agreements.… Continue Reading

The current draft of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 includes a proposed provision that would dramatically accelerate the deadline to file claims for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) to January 31, 2024.  The ERC is a much-scrutinized refundable tax credit of up to $26,000 per employee for certain wages paid by employers between March 12, 2020, and before October 1, 2021. … Continue Reading

On January 9, 2024, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule that provides revised guidance on whether a worker is properly classified as an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Under the FLSA, employees are entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay, while independent contractors are not.… Continue Reading

On December 5, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States in Acheson Hotels, LLC v. Laufer, declined to substantively address a question businesses across the country have been eager to resolve: That is, whether a “tester” plaintiff has standing to sue a public accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), despite having no intention of ever visiting the business.… Continue Reading

In a 3-2 decision in Zilka v. Tax Review Board, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the Commonwealth Court and sided with the City of Philadelphia Department of Revenue in a case addressing whether a City resident was entitled to a credit for state-level taxes paid to Delaware.

During the tax years at issue, the taxpayer was a resident of Philadelphia who worked full-time in Wilmington, Delaware. … Continue Reading

On November 9, 2023, a coalition of business advocacy groups led by the US Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas challenging the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) new final rule for determining joint employer status under the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”).… Continue Reading