Medical Marijuana
<b><I>Accommodating Employees Who Use It</I></b><p>Here is the latest tip for employers: Do not be too quick to "just say no" to medical marijuana. The "it's a federal crime" escape hatch employers invoked previously has been closed by more and more courts in states with medical marijuana laws.
The Latest Trend in Employment Law: Banning Salary History Inquiries
Add salary history to the growing list of inquires off limits to those who interview and evaluate prospective job candidates. Several cities and states have passed legislation that, broadly, prohibits a prospective employer in the private sector from asking questions about an applicant's compensation history.
Is Trump the New Obama?
<b><I>Possible Regulatory Enforcement Against Business After All</I></b><p>Immigration is now the focus of the Trump administration. Last year, ICE released "Guidance for Employers Conducting Internal Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 Audits." Employers would do well to review and familiarize themselves with it. Additionally, employers should also seek the advice of competent counsel to ensure their self-audits are useful without creating the smoking gun that the government audits are hoping to find.
Arizona's New Paid Sick Leave Law
<b><I>What You Need to Know</I></b><p>As of July 1, 2017 all employers in Arizona are now required to provide employees with paid sick leave as directed by a new law, the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act, which Arizona voters passed in November 2016.
Inadequate Judicial Response to Emotional Abuse
<b><I>Part One of a Two-Part Article</I></b><p>According to the author, emotional abuse does irreparable harm to the children and adults subjected to it, yet it often gets inadequate attention from our courts.
Pay Equity Litigation Trends
New requirements and prohibitions on compensation practices around the country are making pay equity a hot topic. These obligations seek to address the "gender pay gap," which the latest reports estimate is at a little over 20%, with women across all occupations having median earnings around 78% of the median earnings of men.
The Equal Pay Act
This year, 25 states and the District of Columbia are considering legislation that would prohibit employers from asking job candidates about past salaries. The belief is that by setting employees' salaries based on what they were paid at their last job, employers may be perpetuating gender discrimination that began long ago.
WannaCry Attack Is a Wakeup Call for Cyber Preparedness
Until May 12, 2017, the more highly publicized ransomware incidents were localized targets impacting only one or a small number of businesses. WannaCry made it clear that ransomware could reach a broad cross-section of computers worldwide, at essentially the same time. There are very few, if any, businesses that can safely say they are not targets for cyber-criminals, because at the very least, businesses have personnel records for their employees.
Do Your Employment Practices Violate Antitrust Law?
This article provides critical background on DOJ policy and practice, and highlights some of the steps corporate counsel can take during leniency or plea negotiations to secure non-prosecution protection for the company's employees as part of any antitrust corporate disposition.
