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Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues

Our Monthly Report on Labor Law Issues, also known as the Employment Law Bulletin, is a monthly newsletter that covers a wide range of labor law issues, including affirmative action plans, strikes, OSHA regulations, minimum wage requirements, and more. Other topics covered have included issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as workplace walk-outs and strikes, vaccinations, and employee rights related to positive test results and quarantine. The newsletter also covers issues related to discrimination, such as artificial intelligence and racial bias, and issues related to unions, such as organizing efforts and union successes at companies like Amazon and Starbucks. The newsletter also covers issues related to taxes, immigration, and court cases related to labor law. Stay informed and avoid legal missteps, by subscribing to email updates here.

white robot hand, indoors
More and more employers are using artificial intelligence (AI) in the hiring process, and as a result, the government and civil rights groups are both interested and concerned about the practice.  One might argue that the use of artificial intelligence is helpful in ensuring non-discrimination, since hiring decisions would be unaffected by the personal bi...
end of words on concrete
Suppose an employee tests positive for COVID-19 or asks for leave to quarantine.  One could argue that a worker who tests positive for COVID-19 is a "direct threat" to the workplace because of the contagious nature of the disease.  One could also argue that granting leaves to large numbers of persons creates an "undue hardship" for the employer.  Although...
Doctor with a stethoscope
Let's first review where we are on the vaccination mandate issue.  The U.S. Supreme Court decided in a 6-3 ruling on January 13, 2022 that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was not empowered by Congress to issue a regulation of such vast significance.  At the same time, the high court in a 5-4 ruling indicated that a separate vaccin...
box on table indoors
Effective December 20, 2021, a new rule in the National Defense Authorization Act took effect in which federal contractors can no longer inquire about an applicant's criminal history before extending a conditional job offer to work on a government contract.  A new federal rule is expected to be issued in the near future to encourage and explain how to com...
number 15 on a brick wall
On November 22, 2021, the Department of Labor's (DOL) Wage and Hour Division issued a final rule implementing President Biden's Executive Order 14026, increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors, which applies to all workers performing work on or in connection with covered federal contracts.  This minimum wage will increase to $15.00 per hour begi...
covid vaccine viles
On Friday night, December 17, 2021, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati lifted the stay of OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on mandatory vaccination or weekly testing.  In a 2-1 opinion written by an Obama appointee, and joined in by a Bush appointee, the Sixth Circuit dissolved the nationwide stay previously issued by the Fifth Circ...
walkout, outdoors, red hats
Unions have engaged in over 240 major strikes this year, doubling the number from last year. Some have labeled the situation "strike-tober." The causes show an increased self-confidence and militancy on the part of employees.
Federal business building, indoors
In general, companies that do business with the federal government are required to have affirmative action plans. Such plans address how contractors recruit and employ women, minorities, certain veterans, workers with disabilities, and set goals for recruitment. Under the prior policy, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) would not r...
hand up to the horizon, outdoors
The U.S. currently has approximately 10.5 million open positions, and there are more open positions than there are unemployed Americans.  Thus, the scarce labor supply is causing employers to be unable to meet their labor needs.  The reason is that the U.S. is missing around 4.3 million workers who would be available to work if the participation rate was ...
drug test vials, indoors
In today's job market, openings outnumber applicants by a large margin.  Out of necessity, therefore, employers are re-examining their application process and entrance requirements, and eliminating those that are not absolutely necessary, to encourage more new hires.
globe, indoors
The Biden Administration has recently announced that U.S. immigration authorities will no longer carry out mass arrests of unauthorized immigrants at work sites.  The thinking is that large arrest operations have "mis-allocated enforcement resources" and discouraged fearful immigrant workers from cooperating in workplace investigations.  The Administratio...