On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) to prohibit employers from entering into post-employment non-compete agreements with workers. The proposed rule, if adopted, would essentially ban non-compete agreements nationwide, with very limited exceptions. The FTC will soon publish the NPRM in the Federal Register, triggering a
Maximizing the Effectiveness and Impact of School Employee Interviews
The employee interview process is a critical component of building and shaping school culture. Not only is it a chance to learn more about candidates to your school and to determine their fit for a particular role, but it is also an opportunity to introduce your school, including its mission and vision, to the candidate.
New Maine Vacation Payout Law Effective on January 1, 2023
To kick off the New Year, employers with 11 or more employees working in Maine will need to review their policy related to the handling of accrued yet unused paid vacation at the end of employment.
Maine passed an amendment to Labor Law §626 requiring unused vacation time accrued on and after January 1, 2023,
Happy Holidays from Our Employment Law Group
Happy Holidays from Our Employment Group!
EEOC Releases New Mandatory Workplace Poster
On October 20, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published a new poster entitled “Know Your Rights.” This new poster replaces the previous “Equal Employment Opportunity Is the Law” poster. All employers subject to federal EEO laws must display the “Know Your Rights” poster on their premises in a conspicuous place. The
EEOC Updates Rules Governing Workplace Covid Screening, Protocols
Published in the New Hampshire Business Review (8/11/22)
New guidance narrows employers’ ability to screen employees.
On July 12, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its COVID-19 workplace guidance and this article summarizes the key topics that employers should understand.
Return to Work Testing and Documentation
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act
Employee Reductions in Force, Furloughs and Other Cost-Savings Measures
With the end of the 2022 second quarter and inflation at a record high in more than four decades, some employers may be forced to take measures to reduce overall operational expenses. Reducing payroll costs is one of the cost-savings measures available to employers in these circumstances. Unfortunately, however, this often results in the loss of employment for employees by way of a reduction in force, or a “RIF.” If a company must move forward with such a process, it must be carefully planned and executed in order to minimize the risk of employment law claims. Below is an overview of factors business owners and human resources professionals should consider when implementing reductions in staff, schedules or compensation.
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U.S. Supreme Court Sets Oral Argument on Vaccine Mandates in the New Year
On January 7, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on the federal vaccine mandates for employers with 100 or more employees and for healthcare facilities receiving federal funds. The Court has ordered additional briefing on the issues and has set one hour for oral argument.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) released
Closing Out Another Year and Looking Forward to 2022!
Another year, another list. I doubt anyone expected at the end of 2020 to still be talking about social distancing, mask wearing, and virtual holiday gatherings. Yet, here we are. In preparing to write this post, I thought about what we have written in the past about making resolutions, plans for new initiatives, and reinvigorating compliance efforts. This year, my list of to do’s looks a bit different than in years past. To be sure, some old favorites are back, but I challenge us all to think a bit bigger and a good way beyond our usual list of projects. The times demand it. So hit ground running in 2022, HR Pros, and try on some of the following!
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Are Exit Interviews Worth the Time and Effort?
In a March 21, 2021 article the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) advised businesses to be prepared for a turnover “tsunami” once the pandemic ends. Although turnover rates were high pre-pandemic, they stalled as employees settled in to whatever their personal situation might have been during the shutdown. Research and consulting firm, The Work Institute, references a pent up turnover demand ready to be unleashed as companies ramp up hiring again. Recent surveys reveal that as much as 50% of the North American workforce is planning to quit their jobs or seek new employment in the coming year.
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