# Articles [ ![yellow rubber gloves on hands reach high](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/dc/yellow-rubber-gloves-pexels-anna-shvets-5218007-dc6e4332.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1163:covid-protected-concerted-activity&catid=205)## [Protected Concerted Activity in the Era of COVID-19: What Employers Need to Know](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1163:covid-protected-concerted-activity&catid=205) September 17, 2021 | [Articles](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is one of the federal agencies that many employers do not have on their radar. The NLRB is most closely associated with union organizing efforts and collective bargaining agreements between unions and companies. In 2020, only 10.8 percent of wage and salary workers in the US were members of unions (according to the… [Learn More](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1163:covid-protected-concerted-activity&catid=205) [ ![woman looking at her smart phone, in a suit outdoors](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/6b/woman-phone-pexels-ono-kosuki-5999793-6bf031aa.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1161:discrimination-confession-sms&catid=205)## [It’s Not A Good Idea To Admit To Discrimination in a Text Message](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1161:discrimination-confession-sms&catid=205) September 13, 2021 | [Articles](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) Sometimes, I just have to shake my head when I read about an employment decision gone horribly wrong. And this one is really a head shaker: according to a lawsuit just filed by the EEOC, a manager at a Franklinton, Louisiana, restaurant fired a newly-hired worker after sending her a social media message saying, “I’m not gonna be able to hire you. I didn’t r… [Learn More](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1161:discrimination-confession-sms&catid=205) [ ![Person getting a vaccine injectionm indoors](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/48/pexels-gustavo-fring-3985170-48a25cde.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1160:covid-vaccine-refusal-employee&catid=205)## [How To Handle The Employee Who Refuses To Get Vaccinated for COVID-19](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1160:covid-vaccine-refusal-employee&catid=205) September 10, 2021 | [Articles](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) Yesterday, the Biden administration announced that the Labor Department will issue a regulation requiring companies with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforces are either “fully vaccinated” or test negative for Covid-19 at least once a week. The regulation will be issued by OSHA, most likely in the form of an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). Wh… [Learn More](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1160:covid-vaccine-refusal-employee&catid=205) [ ![man on couch indoors, hand on his head](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/b5/bunwp1bl0nc-b5135ebe.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1148:lawfully-handling-employee-mental-health&catid=205)## [Lawfully Handling Employee Mental Health Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1148:lawfully-handling-employee-mental-health&catid=205) July 29, 2021 | [Articles](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) Thanks to the effects of a worldwide pandemic and revelations by high profile athletes, the issue of mental health is being openly discussed. Such discussions may even happen in your workplace. So how do you deal with employees who reveal that they are struggling with mental health issues, either their own or those of a close family member? [Learn More](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1148:lawfully-handling-employee-mental-health&catid=205) [ ![indoors, office](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/40/yi_9sivvt_s-40772bca.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1147:employers-fire-employees-office&catid=205)## [Can An Employer Fire Employees Who Refuse To Come Back to the Office?](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1147:employers-fire-employees-office&catid=205) July 20, 2021 | [Articles](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) As COVID restrictions ease, many employers are deciding whether to require employees who have been working remotely to come back to the office. So can an employer fire employees who refuse to come back to the office? Yes–with some important exceptions. [Learn More](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1147:employers-fire-employees-office&catid=205) [ ![signing agreement](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/dd/gjao3ztx9gu-dda3370d.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1146:requiring-employees-non-compete-agreement&catid=205)## [Think Before You Require Your Employees to Sign Non-compete Agreements](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1146:requiring-employees-non-compete-agreement&catid=205) July 09, 2021 | [Articles](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) Today, the President issued an Executive Order broadly tackling the issue of competition in the marketplace. One of the particular issues that the FTC has been tasked with is to restrict the use of non-competition agreements that have become common in certain industries and limit worker mobility. In addition, several states have enacted laws that restrict t… [Learn More](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1146:requiring-employees-non-compete-agreement&catid=205) [ ![bathroom sign, male and female](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/a7/ernrqyhopta-a70ad38b.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1141:eeoc-updated-guidance-discrimination-transgender-employees&catid=205)## [EEOC Issues Updated Guidance on Avoiding Discrimination Against Transgender Employees](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1141:eeoc-updated-guidance-discrimination-transgender-employees&catid=205) June 21, 2021 | [Articles](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) Last week, on the first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, in which the Court held that Title VII’s prohibition on discrimination on the basis is “sex” encompasses sexual orientation and transgender status, the EEOC issued some updated guidance regarding the treatment of transgender employees in the workplace… [Learn More](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1141:eeoc-updated-guidance-discrimination-transgender-employees&catid=205) [ ![supreme court building, blue sky, sunset](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/ca/u8wfirpsq7y-ca7d1223.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1142:religious-liberty-lbgtq-rights-scotus&catid=205)## [Religious Liberty vs. LBGTQ Rights: Narrow Supreme Court Decision Fails to Resolve Many Questions](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1142:religious-liberty-lbgtq-rights-scotus&catid=205) June 18, 2021 | [Articles](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) One of the most eagerly anticipated decisions coming from the U.S. Supreme Court this term was Fulton v. Philadephia, a case involving a Catholic charity’s challenge to a Philadelphia ordinance that excluded it from part of the city’s foster-care program because the charity would not help place children with same-sex couples. The charity argued that th… [Learn More](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1142:religious-liberty-lbgtq-rights-scotus&catid=205) [ ![nurse looking at the camera indoors with a hairnet and mask](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/f0/ywyinnk_toi-f0f51c44.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1143:osha-covid-emergency-healthcare-standard&catid=205)## [OSHA Issues COVID Emergency Temporary Standard–For Healthcare. Is There More to Come?](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1143:osha-covid-emergency-healthcare-standard&catid=205) June 10, 2021 | [Articles](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) Today, the Department of Labor released the long-awaiting OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for dealing with COVID-19. This ETS applies to all settings where any employee provides healthcare services or healthcare support services. [Learn More](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1143:osha-covid-emergency-healthcare-standard&catid=205) [ ![vaccine extraction indoors](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/22/cm1au42fnrg-223e6e62.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1145:eeoc-updates-mandatory-vaccinations&catid=205)## [EEOC Updates Guidance on Vaccinations, and Yes, Employers Can Require Employees to Be Vaccinated](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1145:eeoc-updates-mandatory-vaccinations&catid=205) June 01, 2021 | [Articles](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) Late last week, just before most of us enjoyed a long holiday weekend, the EEOC issued some additional guidance addressing questions arising under the federal equal employment opportunity laws in regard to employees and COVID vaccinations. Considering that the distribution of vaccines started in February, the EEOC is a little late to the party, but better l… [Learn More](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1145:eeoc-updates-mandatory-vaccinations&catid=205) [ ![woman using a laptop next to a stethescope indoors on a table](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/6a/nfvdkihxylu-6a545cd9.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1140:hippa-talk&catid=205)## [Let’s Talk About HIPAA](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1140:hippa-talk&catid=205) May 20, 2021 | [Articles](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) A lot of people talk about HIPAA, but how many of them have actually read the law? Not very many, from what I have seen and heard people say about HIPAA. Let’s set the record straight. [Learn More](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1140:hippa-talk&catid=205) ## Top 10 Content (All-Time) - [![person outdoors standing with a sign that says, I'm sticking with my union](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/c9/manny-becerra-GTPK-Wt1qoY-unsplash-c95084a4.jpg) Union Fines Employee $22,000.00 for Crossing Picket Lines ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=310:union-fines-employee-crossing-picket-lines&catid=53) - [![lightbulb sticky note on board](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/5c/absolutvision-82TpEld0_e4-unsplash-5c5067af.jpg) GOVERNMENT Position: Worker Presents New Social Security Number and States Previous Documents Were Not Real ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=367:government-position-worker-presents-new-social-security-number-and-states-previous-documents-were-not-real&catid=52) - [![chickens, roosters](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/2e/iq1f9gmtie0-2e8806a5.jpg) OSHA Regional Emphasis Program for Poultry Processing Facilities ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=362:osha-regional-emphasis-program-for-poultry-processing-facilities&catid=52) - [![poultry farm](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/d3/thomas-iversen-4W8FgDVyUME-unsplash-d3ac22fc.jpg) OSHA ALERT: OSHA Regional Emphasis Program Targets Southeastern Poultry Processing Facilities ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=370:osha-alert-osha-regional-emphasis-program-targets-southeastern-poultry-processing-facilities&catid=52) - [![AI post it note](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/52/hitesh-choudhary-t1PaIbMTJIM-unsplash-523fd46e.jpg) AI Is Another Relevant Area of Employment Law Issues ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1310:ai-employment-law-issues&catid=53) - [![What Does It Take to Create a Hostile Work Environment? Apparently, a Single E-Mail Will Do.](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/25/030217_2112_whatdoesitt1-25ac7853.jpg) What Does It Take to Create a Hostile Work Environment? Apparently, a Single E-Mail Will Do ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1030:hostile-work-environment-email&catid=205) - [![restaurant webinar promo 1](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/8b/WimLaw-Promo-Slide-july-restaurant-tips-01-8bde36e9.jpg) Tips on Tipping for Georgia Restaurateurs — Part 1: Mastering Wage & Hour Regulations ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1325:restaurateurs-tipping-wages-hour-regulation&catid=221) - [![NLRB Explains What Employer Rules Are Unlawful and How to Make Them Lawful](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/23/rules-markus-spiske-pwpvgq-a5qi-unsplash-230cf9e2.jpg) NLRB Explains What Employer Rules Are Unlawful and How to Make Them Lawful ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=368:nlrb-explains-what-employer-rules-are-unlawful-and-how-to-make-them-lawful&catid=52) - [![man with a leather briefcase](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/e6/marten-bjork-6dW3xyQvcYE-unsplash-e61a536b.jpg) DOL Proposes to Increase Salary Threshold for Overtime Exemption: Will It Raise Wages or Cut Hours? ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=369:dol-proposes-to-increase-salary-threshold-for-overtime-exemption-will-it-raise-wages-or-cut-hours&catid=52) - [![supreme court bench](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/8c/richard-cohrs-DeRk8Mlnd78-unsplash-8c60b2e4.jpg) Supreme Court Addresses Wage-Hour Collective Actions and Statistical Proof in Tyson Case ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=363:supreme-court-addresses-wage-hour-collective-actions-and-statistical-proof-in-tyson-case&catid=52)