By Ilana Morady, Patrick D. Joyce, and Benjamin D. Briggs
Seyfarth Synopsis: On June 20, 2023, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) updated its guidance to local health departments on the definition of a COVID-19 outbreak. The new definition changes the timeframe for counting COVID-19 cases that make up an outbreak from 14 to 7 days.
Continue Reading Cal/OSHA Definition Changes Make Outbreaks Less Likely
By Dawn Solowey, Lynn Kappelman, and Darien Harris
Seyfarth Synopsis: A unanimous Supreme Court has issued its decision in Groff v. Dejoy, clarifying Title VII’s undue hardship standard to mean “substantial increased costs in relation to the conduct of its particular business.” The Court effectively disavowed the long-standing de minimis standard from the seminal TWA v. Hardison
Continue Reading A Unanimous Supreme Court Rules on Undue Hardship in Religious Accommodation: De Minimis Is Out, “Substantial Increased Costs” Is In
Seyfarth Synopsis: Natural hairstyles have become increasingly popular among Black Americans of both sexes. Despite their popularity, these hairstyles have been overregulated frequently in the workplace. To address this concern, Texas recently joined the ranks of twenty-one other states in passing the CROWN Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on hair texture or hairstyle.
On May 27
Continue Reading Texas Joins Growing Number of States to Ban Natural Hair Discrimination
By Danielle Kays and James Nasiri
Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois recently denied Plaintiff’s motion to reconsider a prior dismissal of his privacy action due to untimeliness. In a case titled Bonilla, et al. v. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., et al., No. 20-cv-7390 (N.D. Ill.), Plaintiff alleged that consumer DNA network Ancestry DNA violated the
Continue Reading Federal Court Rejects Application of BIPA Statute of Limitations to Privacy Act Violations
About the Program: With the second quarter well underway, it’s a good time to dive deeper into the problems, risks, and legal developments that can impact the overall health of your organization for years to come. The evolving legal complexities affect all businesses, so every employer should periodically examine their employment practices so they can rest easier at night!
Please
Continue Reading Q2 Wellness Check Up: Identifying Problems Before They Become Problems
By Adam R. Young, Jennifer L. Mora, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Across nationwide testing, marijuana positivity rates for 2022 reached 4.3% (up from 2.7% in 2017), with biggest gains found in states that legalized recreational marijuana.
Impairment and related safety hazards have been disrupting the workplace resulting in lost time, absenteeism, safety hazards, and serious industrial
Continue Reading High Times: Marijuana Positivity in Workplace Drug Tests Reaches 25-Year Record
By Christopher Kelleher, Adam Rongo, and Christopher DeGroff
Seyfarth Synopsis: The EEOC has released technical assistance on preventing workplace harassment in the federal sector. While the guidance does not specifically apply to private employers, it provides important lessons for employers when dealing with workplace harassment and avoiding liability in employment litigation, and insight into how the EEOC views
Continue Reading Government Heal Thyself – Lessons for Private Employers Revealed in EEOC Public Sector Harassment Guidance
By Kayla King-Heyer and Dawn Reddy Solowey
Seyfarth Synopsis: We may be past the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but decisions from COVID-19 vaccine litigation have the potential to affect far more than pandemic-specific employment practices. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently issued an opinion affirming the City of Boston’s power to impose certain health and safety policies on
Continue Reading SJC Weighs in on Fiery Debate Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
By Ashley N. Ehman, Nicolas A. Lussier, Grayson Moronta, and Kimberly Altschul Straker
Please join us on Wednesday, Apr 18, 2023, for this webinar on Specific Employment Law Updates and Trends in New York and New Jersey. There will be discussion on the following recent trends and updates:
1. Audit trends with respect to the New York
Continue Reading HR FORUM: Specific Employment Law Updates and Trends in New York and New Jersey
By Seyfarth Global Privacy & Security Team
Seyfarth Synopsis: It’s been no doubt a week of mixed emotions at the California Privacy Protection Agency (“CPPA”) which last week had its final CCPA regulations (“Regulations”) approved and filed with the California Secretary of State by the Office of Administrative Law. The final regulations have been stated to be “effective immediately”.
Continue Reading CCPA Regulations Are Here – We Think