On August 30, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed revisions to section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act FLSA), which would result in millions of workers who are now exempt from overtime requirements being entitled to time and one half pay when they work more than 40 hours in a workweek. … Continue Reading

On August 25, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board issued its decision in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific LLC (N.L.R.B., Case 28-CA-230115) – upending over fifty years of established law and setting forth a new, union-friendly framework for determining when employers are required to recognize and bargain with unions without a representation election. … Continue Reading

On August 18, 2023, in Hamilton v. Dallas County, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed decades of precedent by broadening the standard for what constitutes an actionable adverse employment action.

Previously, an adverse employment action for Title VII discrimination claims consisted of an “ultimate employment decision” such as “hiring, granting leave, discharging, promoting, and compensation.”… Continue Reading

On August 4, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) released its highly anticipated proposed changes to the regulations implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). Title II prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The regulations aim to increase accessibility of websites and mobile applications by clarifying how these public entities can meet their ADA obligations on a technical level.… Continue Reading

On August 8, 2023, the U. S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued a final rule revamping its procedures for determining prevailing wages under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (collectively, DBRA). This is the first time in forty years that DOL has revisited this process.

The DBRA requires payment of locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits for various classifications of workers on most federally funded or assisted contracts for the construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings or public works.… Continue Reading

On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (“the Board”) continued its retreat from many of the decisions issued by its Trump-era iteration.  In Stericycle, Inc, 372 NLRB No. 113 (2023), the Board abandoned its decision in Boeing Co., 365 NLRB No. 154 (2017), which had announced a new business-friendly test for workplace rules, in favor of a framework derived by the Obama Board from Lutheran Heritage Village-Livonia, 343 NLRB No.… Continue Reading

By December 31, 2023, health plans and insurers must submit an attestation of compliance with the “anti-gag rules” of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA).  The rules apply to all agreements entered into on or after the date that the CAA was enacted (December 27, 2020), and the first attestation applies retroactively to that date.… Continue Reading

As part of a final rule published on July 25, 2023, and in connection with its newly published Form I-9 (which employees may use after August 1), certain employers will be able to permanently verify an employee’s employment eligibility remotely. This final rule continues the pandemic-related flexibility offered to employers to meet their Form I-9 verification requirements.… Continue Reading

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have taken steps to update the Merger Guidelines and overhaul the premerger notification process, each with a sharpened focus on the effect a merger may have on labor markets.

Companies will need to consider the impact of potential mergers on labor markets.… Continue Reading

Please join us for the 11th Annual HR Legal Summit, co-sponsored by Ballard Spahr and SEPA SHRM. This year’s HR Legal Summit will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. The Summit is relevant for HR professionals, employment attorneys, and ANYONE who performs, or advises on, HR-related tasks.… Continue Reading