July 2017 E-UPDATE
Click here to view entire E-Update as a PDF
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Important New Agency Documents for Employers
Federal agencies have released several documents of significant interest to employers: a revised mandatory I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form, a new version of the mandatory USERRA poster, an electronic OSHA form for the upcoming requirement to report electronically workplace injuries and illnesses, and a revised online OSHA whistleblower complaint form…Read More.
Employees’ Disloyal Posters Exceeded Protected Right to Engage in Concerted Activities
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit found that employees’ posters, which suggested that their employer’s sandwiches posed a health threat to customers, were so disloyal that they exceeded the employees’ right to engage in concerted activities under the National Labor Relations Act…Read More.
Employer May Be Required to Permit Medical Marijuana Use as Reasonable Accommodation
Massachusetts’ highest state court ruled that an employer can be held liable under state anti-discrimination laws for firing an individual for using medical marijuana…Read More.
DOL Regulation Prohibiting Employer Retention of Tips Is Invalid – And Will Be Rescinded
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit found invalid the Department of Labor’s regulation that prohibits employers from retaining tips regardless of whether they utilize the tip credit towards the minimum wage requirement. Moreover, the DOL proposes to rescind the regulation…Read More.
DOL To Revive Opinion Letters
The Department of Labor announced that it will once again begin issuing opinion letters, a practice that had been discontinued in 2010…Read More.
DOJ Rejects EEOC’s Expansion of Title VII to Include Sexual Orientation
In a closely-watched case pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, Zarda v. Altitude Express dba Skydive Long Island, the Department of Justice has taken the position that Title VII’s prohibition on sex discrimination does not include sexual orientation…Read More.
Single Use of N-word Can Create Hostile Work Environment
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit found that a single sufficiently severe racial epithet might be enough to create a hostile work environment in violation of Section 1981…Read More.
Attendance Is Essential Function for Temporary Employee
A leave of absence is not a reasonable accommodation for a temporary employee, according to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit…Read More.
New Delaware Law Prohibits Pay History Inquiries
Employers must notify the union before utilizing E-Verify, ruled an administrative law judge for the National Labor Relations Board…Read More.
NLRB – Independent Contractors
Joining Massachusetts, Oregon, New York City and Philadelphia in an attempt to address the gender pay gap, Delaware has passed a law prohibiting employers from asking applicants about their compensation history…Read More.
In a prior Top Tip, we discussed the importance of documenting an employee’s performance issues, but it is equally important to document any decisions to deviate from normal procedures, as the failure to do so can suggest improper motives for the deviations…Read More
