On April 13, 2026, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill granting graduate assistants at the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County collective bargaining rights. The bill passed both chambers with amendments, and pending Governor Wes Moore’s signature, the legislation will take effect on July 1, 2028.… Continue Reading
NLRB Acting General Counsel Rescinds Numerous Biden-Era Guidance Memoranda
The National Labor Relations Board’s Acting General Counsel has moved quickly to undo the work of his predecessor, a Biden appointee, who President Trump recently removed from office. On February 14, 2025, Acting General Counsel William B. Cowen rescinded more than a dozen guidance memoranda that many employers considered to be significantly favorable to unions. … Continue Reading
New DOJ Memos Target Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practices Under Attorney General Pamela Bondi
Pamela Bondi, the newly sworn in Attorney General at the Department of Justice (DOJ), issued a flurry of memos and directives in her first 24 hours on the job. Building on President Trump’s executive orders related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Bondi issued two memos that direct the DOJ’s attention and resources to ending “illegal discrimination and preferences” – (1) Ending Illegal DEI and DEIA Discrimination and Preferences; and (2) Eliminating Internal Discriminatory Practices.… Continue Reading
Supreme Court Heightens Relief Standard For NLRB To Obtain 10(j) Injunctions
A unanimous decision from the United States Supreme Court, issued on June 13, 2024, settles the split among the circuit courts concerning the factors to be considered by a court in considering a request by the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) to obtain an injunction under Section 10(j) of the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”) against an employer during the pendency of NLRB administrative proceedings and raises the bar that must be satisfied by the NLRB for such injunctive relief
The decision in in Starbucks Corp.… Continue Reading
BSA Whistleblower Provision Gains Teeth
On December 29, 2022, Congress passed the “Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act” to motivate both would-be whistleblowers and the plaintiffs’ bar to pursue Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (“AMLA”) and related claims more vigorously by providing certain financial incentives.
First, the Act entitles whistleblowers to an award of between 10 and 30 percent of the value of “monetary sanctions” above $1 million collected as a result of an enforcement action (importantly, “monetary sanctions” do not include forfeiture). … Continue Reading
Back to School – Remembering the 4 R’s: RIFs, Remote Work, Requests for Accommodations, and Recruitment in Uncertain Times, Part Two
Part two of our “Back to School” webinar series will take a look at looming issues for employers as they face an uncertain economic forecast while still dealing with novel challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite unemployment rates remaining steady, a changing economy has many employers anticipating the need to reduce their workforce and re-thinking workforce management.… Continue Reading
Webinar Recording: Back to School – Remembering the 4 R’s: RIFs, Restructuring, Requests for Accommodations, and Recruitment in Uncertain Times
As COVID lingers and the economy remains uncertain, employers face a host of issues. Recently, a group of Ballard Spahr attorneys hosted part one of a two part webinar series to revisit the basics, as well as novel issues, related to aligning your workforce to your business needs. Many businesses do not have enough workers and are focused on attracting and retaining necessary talent, while others, due to rising costs and stubborn supply chain problems, must consider layoffs and reductions in force.… Continue Reading
NLRB Proposes Changes to Election Blocking Charge Rule, Voluntary Recognition Bar Doctrine, and Construction Industry Bargaining
The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) inviting public comment on a proposed rule that would rescind and replace an April 2020 rule which currently governs: 1) the filing and processing of petitions for a Board-conducted representation election while unfair labor practice charges are pending; and 2) the filing and processing of petitions following an employer’s voluntary recognition of a union as the majority-supported collective bargaining representative.… Continue Reading
NLRB Announces Proposed New Joint Employer Rule
Yesterday, the NLRB published a proposed rule designed to rescind and replace the Trump-era rule used to determine whether two companies are joint employers under the NLRA. Under the rule adopted during the Trump Administration, an employer can be a joint employer with another entity if it has substantial direct and immediate control over the essential terms and conditions of employment of the other entity’s workers.… Continue Reading
OSHA Plans Inspections of Region 3 Warehouse Establishments
Effective last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Region 3 Administrator, whose jurisdiction covers PA, DE, MD, VA, WV, and Washington DC, released a Regional Emphasis Program (REP) for Warehousing Operation which seeks to reduce injury/illness rates in the warehousing industry by conducting comprehensive inspections to address hazards that may include those associated with powered industrial trucks, lockout/tagout, life safety, means of egress and fire suppression.… Continue Reading