On March 31, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Cannabis/Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (the “Act”), which legalizes recreational cannabis use for adults aged 21 and over. The Act provides the framework for the...more
4/5/2021
/ Adverse Employment Action ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Discrimination ,
Drug Testing ,
Governor Cuomo ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Marijuana ,
Off-Duty Employees ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Popular ,
Recreational Use ,
Safe Harbors ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
On March 12, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed legislation (S2588A/A3354B) granting public and private employees paid leave in order to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The new law, which went into effect immediately, gives employees up to...more
3/22/2021
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Collective Bargaining ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Governor Cuomo ,
New Legislation ,
New York ,
Paid Leave ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Quarantine ,
Retaliation ,
State and Local Government ,
Travelers ,
Vaccinations
On February 22, 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act (“NJCREAMMA”), which legalizes the recreational use of cannabis for adults age 21...more
3/2/2021
/ Adverse Action ,
Cannabis Products ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Department of Transportation (DOT) ,
Drug Testing ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Federal Contractors ,
Governor Murphy ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Marijuana ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Off-Duty Employees ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Private Right of Action ,
Protected Class ,
Recreational Use ,
Workplace Safety
After more than ten (10) months since going into effect, on January 20, 2021, the New York Department of Labor (“NYDOL”) issued new guidance (the “Guidance”) regarding the New York COVID-19 Sick Leave Law (the “Law”). As we...more
Last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued guidance clarifying that, in certain circumstances, employers will have the ability to require that employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine (the...more
12/22/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Collective Bargaining ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
GINA ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Religious Accommodation ,
Required Documentation ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On October 28, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued Executive Order Number 192, which mandates that every employer that “requires or permits its workforce, whether in part or as a whole, to be physically present at a...more
After almost one month since going into effect, New York State has issued the first round of guidance on the New York State Paid Sick Leave Law (“NYSSL”) on October 20, 2020. As we recently reported, the NYSSL requires all...more
New York State Paid Sick Leave Law-
As we previously reported, New York State passed the New York State Sick Leave Law (“NYSSL”), which went into effect on September 30, 2020. While some New York localities, such as New...more
The State of New Jersey has not taken a one size fits all approach in return to school plans for the 2020-2021 school year. The New Jersey Department of Education (“NJDOE”) has received approximately 800 different plans for...more
In an attempt to streamline the prior model notice of rights, certification, and designation forms under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) recently released new model...more
As employers across the country are re-opening or preparing to re-open their “doors,” federal agencies are continuing to issue guidance in light of the unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we previously...more
6/18/2020
/ ADEA ,
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Harassment ,
New Guidance ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
On June 15, 2020, in a 6-3 decision, the United States Supreme Court made clear that employers may not discriminate against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Specifically, the Court held that...more
6/17/2020
/ Altitude Express Inc v Zarda ,
Bostock v Clayton County Georgia ,
Civil Rights Act ,
EEOC v RG & GR Harris Funeral Homes ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Gender Identity ,
LGBTQ ,
SCOTUS ,
Sex Discrimination ,
Sexual Orientation ,
Sexual Orientation Discrimination ,
Title VII ,
Transgender
On April 3, 2020, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the fiscal year 2021 New York State budget that amends the New York Labor Law to require all New York employers to provide paid or unpaid sick time to their...more
On March 18, 2020, New York State passed a bill in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that provides employees with job-protected quarantine leave. The new law also expands New York Paid Family Leave (“PFL”) benefits and New...more
On March 20, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy signed Assembly Bill 3848 (“A3848”) into law, which provides employment protections to employees during the ongoing Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by Governor...more
With the continued spread of COVID-19, more commonly known as the “Coronavirus,” employers and employees alike are becoming increasingly concerned about workplace health and safety. If they have not done so already, employers...more
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (“NJDOL”) recently issued final regulations regarding the New Jersey Earned Sick Leave Law (the “ESLL”).
As we previously reported, the law requires New Jersey...more
During the end of 2019 and in the past few weeks, New York State and New York City passed legislation and administrative guidance further regulating workplace protections. New York State and New York City employers should...more
Within the past few weeks, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed several pieces of legislation expanding the scope of anti-discrimination laws in the New York workplace and adding accommodation obligations for domestic violence...more
Recently, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed two significant bills expanding the scope of anti-discrimination laws in the New York workplace. Specifically, on July 10, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed Senate Bill 6549, prohibiting...more
On March 1, 2019, New Jersey became the first state to enact legislation, Senate Bill No. 1567 (“An Act concerning pre-tax transportation fringe benefits”), requiring employers with 20 or more employees to offer pre-tax...more
On March 18, 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed Senate Bill 121 into law. The new law prohibits the use of arbitration clauses and jury waivers that relate to claims of discrimination, retaliation, and harassment in...more
On February 19, 2019, Governor Murphy signed into law A3975, which significantly expands New Jersey’s paid family leave insurance program (“PFLL”) and temporary disability benefits law. By way of background, the PFLL has been...more
On February 4, 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a bill (A-15) that will increase New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024 for the majority of New Jersey’s workers. ...more
New York City passed two new laws to expand employer obligations with regard to nursing mothers. Effective March 18, 2019, New York City employers with four (4) or more employees will be required to comply with the...more