Archives of Employment

CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISPARAGEMENT TERMS IN SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS

On February 21, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) announced a decision in McClaren McComb, 372 NLRB No. 58 (2023), overturning two Trump-era cases concerning confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses in severance agreements. Thereafter on March 21, 2023, the NLRB’s General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo released a clarifying memorandum in response to inquiries on the McClaren […]

UPDATES ON THE FTC’S PROPOSED NON-COMPETE RULE

On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, outlining a new proposed rule (“the Rule”) that would effectively ban non-compete agreements. The FTC considers non-competes to be violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, which aims to prevent unfair methods of competition. The announcement has […]

EEOC RELEASES UPDATED GUIDANCE REGARDING HEARING DISABILITIES AND ADA COMPLIANCE

On January 24, 2023, the EEOC released an updated guidance document, “Hearing Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act.” The guidance specifically focuses on how the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) applies to job applicants and employees with hearing disabilities, including when employers may ask for information regarding a disability, types of […]

WORKPLACE CONSIDERATIONS AND PROTECTIONS FOR PREGNANT AND NURSING EMPLOYEES

2023 brings increased protections for pregnant and nursing employees, with the passing of the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act on December 29, 2022. Both Acts expand employer obligations to pregnant and nursing employees, including break time and reasonable accommodation requirements. Covered employees include mothers who have […]

EEOC RELEASES UPDATED “KNOW YOUR RIGHTS” POSTER

On October 20, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) released a new “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster, replacing their “EEO is the Law” poster. The new poster includes several changes, including straightforward language and formatting, emphasizing harassment as a form of discrimination, clarifying the definition of sex discrimination, and providing equal […]

HUMAN RESOURCE CONSULTING FROM GARDNER SKELTON

Speaking of our employment team, Gardner Skelton is excited to announce a new service that we believe will be extraordinarily helpful to our employer clients, while also much more moderately priced than attorney advice. Please meet our new team member, Alissa Graney. Alissa has joined our team as an HR Consultant focused on helping our […]

THE PITFALLS OF IGNORING A SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINT

Step lively when an employee complains of sexual harassment, especially when your own policies require it. Less than urgent action could strip an employer of the very important “Faragher-Ellerth” defense, an essential component of which is that the employer exercised reasonable care to prevent and promptly correct harassing behavior. In a case out of a […]

EMPLOYING THE CLASS OF 2022: TIPS FOR HIRING “ZOOMERS”

Known as the “Zoomers,” “Gen Z,” and the “Class of COVID-19,” the members of the Class of 2022 have turned their tassels and are finally entering the workforce. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers plan to hire nearly 32% more college graduates in 2022 than in 2021. Additionally, the Bureau […]

EMPLOYERS WITH ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS – TAKE HEED!

On March 3, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 (the “Act”). The Act amends the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) and prohibits employers from enforcing pre-dispute arbitration agreements, and class or claim waivers, in connection with claims of sexual assault or sexual harassment. […]