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USDOT Approves Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Oral Drug TestingOn May 2, 2023, the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”) published a final rule that authorizes employers to use oral fluid drug testing as an alternative methodology to urine drug testing. While the final rule became effective on June 1, 2023, employers may not conduct oral fluid testing until the United States Department of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”) certifies at least two laboratories to conduct such testing (one to serve as a primary laboratory and one to serve as a split-specimen laboratory). Read More ›

Categories: Employee Handbook, Employment, Regulations

An Employer’s Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act

ADA Reasonable AccommodationIntroduction

President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The ADA is a comprehensive federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination in employment based upon disability and guarantees access to public accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

Hundreds of ADA lawsuits are filed each year asserting violations of the ADA. As a result, it is imperative for employers to understand the ADA requires. Read More ›

Categories: Employment, Labor Relations

Michigan Senate Passes Significant Amendments to Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act

Discrimination in DictionaryThis blog has since been updated since its original publication in March 2023.

On March 16, 2023, Governor Whitmer signed into law a series of amendments to the state’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act[1], that added “sexual orientation, gender identity or expression” to the law’s list of prohibited discriminatory practices.[2] Read More ›

Categories: Alerts and Updates, Employee Handbook, Employment, Labor Relations, Lawsuit, Legislative Updates

How Employers Handle a Remote Workforce

Remote employee on laptop at homeIn a June 2022 study by Gallup.com, 8 in 10 employees are working hybrid or entirely remote, while only 2 in 10 are entirely on-site.  Read More ›

Categories: Employment, Labor Relations, Liability

Corporate Transparency Act: What You Need to Know Before 2024

Depressed Man with Stacks of FoldersIntroduction and Scope of New Rule

With a stated goal of countering money laundering, the financing of terrorism and other illicit activities (including those of Russian oligarchs currently under U.S. sanctions), Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in January 2021 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. In 2022, the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) began to publish rules in its efforts to begin enforcement of the CTA likely beginning on January 1, 2024. Read More ›

Categories: Alerts and Updates, Did you Know?, Employment, Legislative Updates, News

Federal Trade Commission Issues Sweeping Proposed Rule to Prohibit Noncompete Agreements

Banning Non-Compete ContractOn January 5, 2023, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a proposed new regulation that would broadly prohibit employers from using or enforcing noncompete agreements with employees, former employees, contractors, or other workers. Read More ›

Categories: Alerts and Updates, Did you Know?, Employment, Labor Relations, News

How to Attract and Retain Talent in 2023

Remote Interview with ResumeAs the working environment changes, so do the expectations of the talent pool. In the new year, employers should keep some crucial things in mind when attracting and retaining talent. Read More ›

Categories: Employee Benefits, Employment

Coming in 2023: Big Changes to Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave

Distressed EmployerThis past year brought about significant changes to Michigan employment law, especially in regards to minimum wage and paid sick leave.

In 2022, the Michigan Court of Claims reinstated Michigan’s original Improved Workforce Opportunity Act (IWOWA) and Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA), ruling that the adopt and amend tactic used to pass the Paid Medical Leave Act were unconstitutional under Michigan’s Constitution. This ruling immediately voided the Paid Medical Leave Act and the amended version of the IWOWA, reinstating all provisions of the 2018 IWOWA and ESTA. The Court of Appeals did issue a stay until February 19, 2023.

So how did we get here, and what does this mean for employers moving forward? Read More ›

Categories: Alerts and Updates, Did you Know?, Employment, Labor Relations

Employee Misclassification and the Gig Economy

W2 vs 1099 FormOne of the most concerning trends in employment law today is employee misclassification. Stringent labor protections put in place by the government, the increased use of of independent contractors and explosion in the gig economy means that the burden is on employers not only to classify employees correctly, but also to treat them strictly within the boundaries of the law under that classification. Read More ›

Categories: Department of Labor, Did you Know?, Employment, Labor Relations, Lawsuit

Non-Competition Agreements: What They Are And How You can Align Yours With Best Practices

Filling Out Non-Compete Agreement FormA non-competition agreement also known as a non-compete agreement or non-compete clause is a stipulation often found in employee contracts that prohibits an employee from engaging in the same type of business with another employer if they leave their current job.

These clauses have been in employers’ toolboxes for decades, largely to protect proprietary information and trade secrets from competition. However in the past few years, non-competes have come under fire from the Biden Administration.

Knowing this, our team has put together some key points on non-competes, laws that govern them, and changes that we’re seeing in the Biden Administration. Read More ›

Categories: Contracts, Did you Know?, Employment, Labor Relations, Lawsuit