Click here to view entire E-Update as a PDF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS The COVID-19 Isolation Guidelines Have Changed Again… It’s been a long pandemic (and for those of you who are interested, the World Health Organization says that the pandemic is still ongoing, although it no longer constitutes a global public […]

On February 29, 2024, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs announced a new Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) landing page with new resources added to existing ones to assist federal contractors and subcontractors to comply with their obligations under the law. VEVRAA prohibits federal (sub)contractors from discrimination […]

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has issued a decision that seeks “to demystify” part of the well-established standard for proving disparate treatment discrimination under Title VII (i.e., that an employee has been treated less favorably than co-workers who do not share the same protected characteristic). In […]

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit gave short shrift to an employer’s argument that it should not have to respond to a subpoena from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission because the time that it would take employees to find responsive documents was an undue burden. In EEOC […]

The Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to pay non-exempt employees at least the minimum wage, free and clear. And if the employer requires the employee to provide their own “tools” for work, the employer must reimburse the employee for 100% of the cost. But how should that cost be […]

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit found that the employee’s threats, as well as her stealing time, were legitimate reasons for her termination, contrary to her claims that her employer interfered with her rights and retaliated against her in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act, […]

The U.S. Department of Labor has created a new Competitive Integrated Employment Transformation Hub to collect resources from various federal agencies that provide practical guidance, policy information, and best practices for those with disabilities and their employers, as well as other related entities and individuals. According to the DOL, competitive […]

The Maryland Department of Labor’s Division of Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) has released a Frequently Asked Questions document for employers about the forthcoming program. Starting in January 2026, the program will provide most Maryland employees with 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, with the possibility of […]

There were several developments of interest to government contractors and subcontractors this past month, including the following: Pay Transparency. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council issued a proposed rule on “Pay Equity and Transparency in Federal Contracting.” The rule would prohibit contractors and their subs from requesting or considering an […]

On an issue that has gone back and forth with changes in Presidential administrations, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has recently upheld the National Labor Relations Board’s current position that employers must continue dues checkoff after expiration of a collective bargaining agreement. Under the National Labor […]