By Annette Tyman, Christine Hendrickson and Kristina M. Launey
Yesterday, October 6, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the California Fair Pay Act, which media observers have called the nation’s most aggressive equal pay law. The Fair Pay Act will be effective January 1, 2016 for employers with California-based employees.
How Does This Law Differ From Current Laws Addressing Pay
Continue Reading California Governor Signs Strictest Equal Pay Law in U.S.
By Ellen E. McLaughlin and Craig B. Simonsen
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy has recently released the “Inclusive Internship Programs: A How-to Guide for Employers” (How-To-Guide).
The DOL’s guide provides information on the benefits that inclusive internship programs may bring to employers. For example, the How-To-Guide indicates that inclusive internships may allow businesses
Continue Reading DOL Publishes How-to Guide for Inclusive Internship Programs
By Jacob Oslick
We have previously reported and blogged about challenges to paying employees through debit card-like “paycards.” A recent Pennsylvania decision has amplified those concerns.
In a case of first impression, the trial court in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania found that paying employees through mandatory payroll cards does not comply with a Pennsylvania law, the Wage Payment and Collection Law,
Continue Reading Pennsylvania Court Rules Payroll Cards Aren’t “Lawful Money,” Says Employers Must Pay Using Checks Or Dead Presidents
By Laura Maechtlen and Sam Schwartz-Fenwick
In a landmark ruling on July 15, 2015 in _____ v. Foxx, EEOC Appeal No. 2012-24738–FAA-03 (July 15, 2015), the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC’) held for the first time that Title VII extends to claims of employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Specifically, the EEOC held that sexual orientation discrimination is per
Continue Reading EEOC Rules That Existing Federal Law Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation
By Sam Schwartz-Fenwick and Craig B. Simonsen
In another federal action that employers need take note of, last week the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) issued its “Commission Guidance Regarding the Definition of the Terms ‘Spouse’ and ‘Marriage’ Following the Supreme Court’s Decision in United States v. Windsor.” SEC Interpretive Release No. 33-9850 (IR) (June 19, 2015), 80 Fed.
Continue Reading SEC Interpretive Release on the Terms “Spouse” and “Marriage”
Seyfarth Shaw proudly celebrates and takes pride in being a lead supporter of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and is celebrating June as LGBT Pride Month. We invite you to enjoy this short presentation of our accomplishments by following this Diversity Pride E-Card link.
If you have any questions about our e-card, Pride Month,
Continue Reading AT SEYFARTH, WE ARE PROUD OF OUR MANY ACHIEVEMENTS IN DIVERSITY
By Dawn Solowey and Ariel Cudkowicz
On June 1, 2015, in a 8-1 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the religious-discrimination case of EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc. We blogged about that opinion on the day of the decision.
But many employers are wondering: now what? Read on for some practical,
Continue Reading You Can’t Stick Your Head in the Sand: Dos and Don’ts for Religious Accommodation in Hiring After EEOC v. Abercrombie
By Sam Schwartz-Fenwick and Amanda Sonneborn
In last week’s oral argument on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage bans, Chief Justice Roberts asked the following question:
Counsel, I’m not sure it’s necessary to get into sexual orientation to resolve the case. I mean, if Sue loves Joe and Tom loves Joe, Sue can marry him and Tom can’t. And the difference
Continue Reading Same-Sex Marriage Bans As Sex Discrimination: The Potential Impact On Plan Sponsors And Employers
By Lynn Kappelman, Laura Maechtlen, Sam Schwartz-Fenwick and Michael Stevens
Background
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument on two questions regarding the Constitutionality of state laws limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. In 2013, the Supreme Court side-stepped the issue when it dismissed Perry v Hollingsworth on standing grounds. In 2013, the Court also ruled in United
Continue Reading The Supreme Court Weighs The Constitutionality Of Restricting Marriage To Opposite Sex Couples, And The Impact Their Decision May Have For Employers
By Erin Dougherty Foley and Craig B. Simonsen
In an interesting development, a number of large employers have begun to offer to pay for employees to freeze their eggs (aka ova (the female reproductive cell)).
There is merit to the notion. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of couples where the woman is 35 years
Continue Reading Health Insurance, Profit Sharing, Paid Vacation … Egg-Freezing?