Deflecting the Legal Ramifications of Cupid’s Arrow
The season of love, hearts, roses, and chocolate treats is upon us, again. And, again, we take this opportunity to remind employers of the need to consider and address the risks associated with “office romance”.
U.S. Supreme Court Prohibits Enforcement of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court threw a monkey wrench in President Biden’s six-pronged, comprehensive national strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by ordering a stay of enforcement of the recently enacted COVID-19 vaccine-or-test mandate issued as an emergency temporary standard by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The mandate covered virtually all employers with […]
Vaccine May Be Required By Private Sector Employers with 100+ Employees
As part of President Biden’s six-pronged, comprehensive national strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, he has announced the first ever federal vaccine mandate to apply to private employers. In the coming weeks, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is likely to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard that would require all private […]
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Says Employees Must Be Paid for Just Standing in Line
On July 21, 2021, in the case of In Re: Amazon.com, Inc., the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that employees must be paid for the time spent waiting to undergo and undergoing mandatory workplace security scre
enings under the state’s Minimum Wage Act (PMWA).
FLB Attorneys Named to 2021 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C. is pleased to announce that six attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2021 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list. In addition, three attorneys were named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers – Rising Stars Edition.
Mandatory Notice Requirements for COBRA Continuation
The federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances, such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between […]
CROWN Act Legislation Prohibiting Hair-Based Employment Discrimination Expands
New Mexico has just become the latest state to add to the growing momentum of “CROWN Act” legislation across the country, passing laws to prohibit employment discrimination based on a person’s hairstyle, natural hair texture and related characteristics. Title VII & Hair-Related Discrimination Since its passing, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 […]
Pennsylvania Lifts the Travel Quarantine Requirement
Yesterday, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf rescinded the state-wide order requiring anyone over the age of 11, who visits another state, to quarantine for 14 days upon returning to Pennsylvania. The so-called “quarantine” order had been in effect since November 2020.
Office Romance – Navigating the Risks this Valentine’s Day Season
As we begin year two of a global pandemic, most in-person activities remain severely restricted, and many employees continue to work remotely. Given these restrictions, employers may be lulled into a false sense of security that risks posed by office romance are no more.
Biden Administration Retracts the DOL’s Proposed Tip Pooling Rule
In the early days of President Joe Biden’s presidency, his administration has not wasted any time reviewing and, sometimes, revoking employment-related regulatory rules issued in the final days of the Trump administration. For example, the United States Department of Labor (DOL), at President Biden’s direction, withdrew three previously issued opinion letters on now-frozen rules related […]