Jessica Federico

On September 7, 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) filed a lawsuit claiming an employer discriminated against disabled employees by failing to provide workplace accommodations related to COVID-19. Specifically, the EEOC has accused ISS Facility Services Inc. a Denmark-based facilities management company, of unlawfully denying its employee’s reasonable request for an accommodation for her disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), and then firing her for making the request.… Continue Reading

The Colorado Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Nieto v. Clark’s Market, Inc., ruling that employers must pay employees for any earned but unused vacation upon termination of employment. This decision means that Colorado employers must pay employees for earned but unused vacation pay at the end of their employment. … Continue Reading

A federal judge in Colorado has upheld the enforceability of Colorado’s pay transparency law, despite vigorous challenges from the business community. As previously reported here, in November 2020, Colorado passed sweeping new regulations regarding equal pay transparency under the state’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Under that law, employers in Colorado have to issue compensation ranges in all job postings, including internal promotions.… Continue Reading

Today, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) substantially augmented its technical assistance questions and answers related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal equal employment opportunity laws. It also released a new document targeted at employees and job applicants that explains how federal anti-discrimination laws apply during the COVID-19 pandemic.… Continue Reading

As previously reported here, under the American Rescue Plan Act, certain employers have until May 31, 2021 to notify eligible individuals of their potential right to subsidized COBRA coverage. Eligible individuals are those who lost group health plan coverage due to a reduction of hours or an involuntary termination of employment and who are still within the possible maximum COBRA coverage period, even if they never elected COBRA or initially elected it and let it lapse.… Continue Reading

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed Executive Order 242, removing many of the state’s remaining COVID-19 restrictions. This Executive Order recognizes the marked progress New Jersey has made in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, both in the declining number of COVID-19 cases and the percentage of State residents who are fully or partially vaccinated.  … Continue Reading

On Friday, May 7, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech filed an application seeking full approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its COVID-19 vaccine for patients age 16 and up.  Pfizer is the first COVID-19 vaccine producer to do so. Full approval would allow Pfizer to market and distribute its vaccine without seeking a new emergency authorization.… Continue Reading

On Tuesday, April 27, President Biden signed an executive order requiring federal contractors to pay their employees a minimum of $15 an hour starting on March 30, 2022. After that, the order will continue to index the minimum wage for federal contractors to an inflation measure.

This raise in the pay floor – which was previously increased by President Obama – represents a hike of about $4.… Continue Reading

The United States Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division just launched a new initiative called “Essential Workers, Essential Protections” that provides workers with information about the wage and hour laws that apply to them, including instructions on how to contact the DOL with questions or complaints.

In conjunction with this new initiative, the DOL released a set of FAQs regarding pay, hours worked, and job-protected leave during the pandemic.… Continue Reading