News & Analysis as of

Employee Rights Employer Liability Issues Drug Testing

Most countries provide some degree of workplace protection for employees and job applicants. Depending on the jurisdiction, these protections generally include safety precautions and policies, anti-discrimination... more +
Most countries provide some degree of workplace protection for employees and job applicants. Depending on the jurisdiction, these protections generally include safety precautions and policies, anti-discrimination policies, collective bargaining and unionizing rights, meal and rest requirements, minimum wage rules, and medical and family leave rights to name a few. In the United States, the federal framework for employee rights stem from statutes such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In addition, employee rights statutes are implemented and enforced by regulatory authorities such as the EEOC, NLRB, OSHA, and the Department of Labor. Further, many state and local governments provide additional and localized protections for employees that are enforced by local regulatory entities. less -
Jackson Lewis P.C.

Iowa Amends Drug Testing Statute, Relieves Some Employer Burdens

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

The Iowa drug testing statute (Iowa Code § 730.5) became more employer friendly effective July 1, 2025. Although the Iowa drug testing law remains one of the most technically challenging in the country, the changes will make...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Off the Clock, On the Radar: Managing Off-Duty Conduct and Workplace Impact

Can an employee’s off-duty behavior justify workplace discipline? In today’s hyperconnected world, the line between personal and professional conduct is increasingly blurred, leaving employers to navigate a tricky legal and...more

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

Should Employers Discipline Workers for Suspected Marijuana Use Without a Drug Test?

Drug testing for marijuana has never been an exact science. There is no consensus on what level of marijuana in the bloodstream constitutes intoxication. Unlike alcohol, employees who used marijuana weeks ago or longer can...more

Littler

Third Circuit Affirms That New Jersey’s Cannabis Law Does Not Allow a Private Right of Action

Littler on

On December 9, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld the New Jersey district court’s previous ruling that there is no private right of action under New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Drug Test Woes: State Law Protections for Employee Cannabis Use May Not Protect Them After All

The changing landscape of the cannabis industry is keeping employers on their toes nationwide. As more and more states expand the legalization of cannabis products, we are also seeing a trend in the cannabis statutes for...more

Akerman LLP - HR Defense

California’s New Drug Testing Rules Protect Employees’ Off-Duty Cannabis Use

With expanding legalization and commercialization—including several state initiatives in 2024 and perhaps even federal legislation—the chances are good that your California business has at least a few employees who consume...more

Epstein Becker & Green

Court Clarifies Employers’ Rights Under Connecticut’s Palliative Use of Marijuana Act, Guidance on Drug Testing

Epstein Becker & Green on

In a recent decision affirming summary judgment in favor of defendant Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. (the “Agency”), the Connecticut Appellate Court (decision.pdf) provided employers with useful guidance about...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Protecting Off-Duty Cannabis Use in California: What Employers Should Know

As of January 1, 2024, California employers cannot make employment decisions based on an employee’s legal, off-duty cannabis use. They also cannot request information about a job applicant’s prior cannabis use. Constangy...more

DarrowEverett LLP

Q2 Employment Law Updates: Non-Competes, Religious Accommodation and More

DarrowEverett LLP on

So far, 2023 has been a wild ride for employers, a theme that looks to be continuing into the third quarter of the year. While certain predictions we made during Q1 came true in Q2 (we are looking at you, NLRB), others such...more

Lathrop GPM

Employers Should Take Note of Important Minnesota Employment Law Developments From the 2023 Legislative Session

Lathrop GPM on

The 2023 Minnesota legislative session was an active one and has resulted in a number of new employment law obligations for employers with Minnesota-based employees...more

Lerch, Early & Brewer

New Rule Will Limit DC Employers’ Ability to Crack Down on Employee Cannabis Use

Lerch, Early & Brewer on

DC employers will no longer be able to take adverse action against employees for certain cannabis use. The new rules are part of the Cannabis Employment Protections Amendment Act, which was passed by the DC Council then...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Failure to Hire Claims Go Up In Smoke for Pot-Using New Jersey Job Applicant

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

On May 25, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey granted an employer’s motion to dismiss a putative class action in Zanetich v. Wal-Mart Stores E., Inc. Addressing an issue of first impression, the...more

Littler

As Minnesota Nears Broad Marijuana Legalization, Employers Should Anticipate Testing, Policy Changes

Littler on

With just days remaining in the legislative session, Minnesota lawmakers remain on track to legalize recreational marijuana, significantly modify the state’s drug-testing law, and limit employers’ rights to prohibit employee...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

On the Horizon: Broad Employment Protections for Marijuana Users in the District of Columbia

Last summer, the Washington D.C. Council unanimously passed a bill that prohibits employers from refusing to hire, terminating, suspending, failing to promote, demote, or otherwise penalizing any employee who uses marijuana,...more

Cranfill Sumner LLP

What Lies Ahead? – Predictions for Employers in 2023

Cranfill Sumner LLP on

While issues like PPP loans, the CARES Act, and vaccination mandates are largely in the rearview mirror, the workplace looks vastly different than it did three years ago.  Some of these changes were brought about by COVID,...more

Payne & Fears

New California Law Prevents Employers From Taking Action Against Employees Based Solely on Cannabis Use Away From Work

Payne & Fears on

Drug screenings form a routine part of many hiring processes, but a new law may require employers to review this practice. The law, AB 2188, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 18, 2022, amends the California Fair Employment...more

Fisher Phillips

Top 10 List – Keep Your Eyes on These California Employment Bills on Governor Newsom’s Desk

Fisher Phillips on

Eight months of legislative wrangling and dealmaking have come to an end as the California Legislature just wrapped up work for the year – and now employers across the Golden State turn their eyes to the governor’s office to...more

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP

Rhode Island Employers can No Longer Discipline Employees for Out-of-Work Recreational Weed Use

Pursuant to the new law legalizing recreational marijuana in Rhode Island, private employers are now prohibited from firing or taking other disciplinary action against an employee for recreational marijuana use outside the...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Don’t Fire Me! I’m Drug Free! It Was CBD! Indiana Court Examines Termination for Use of Hemp Oil

In our modern world of a booming CBD industry and an increasing number of states that have legalized marijuana, can you terminate an employee for a positive drug test for marijuana? What if the test shows marijuana...more

Dentons

Workplace Drug Testing in Iowa Receives Further Clarity

Dentons on

The Iowa Supreme Court recently issued important decisions concerning Iowa’s private sector drug-free workplaces statute, Iowa Code section 730.5, a complex statute that contains numerous application pitfalls for employers....more

Littler

Pennsylvania Appeals Court Determines State’s Medical Marijuana Act Includes a Private Right of Action for Employees

Littler on

In a case of first impression, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania has determined that employees can sue their employers for claims under the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (MMA).  Palmiter v. Commonwealth Health Sys.,...more

Bennett Jones LLP

Alberta Court Provides Guidance for Random Drug and Alcohol Testing

Bennett Jones LLP on

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench has recently issued a decision that provides guidance regarding the contractual right of a non-unionized employer to implement randomized drug and alcohol testing. ...more

McGuireWoods LLP

Edible Bites Episode 5: Weed at Work: Employment Law Trends

McGuireWoods LLP on

In episode five of McGuireWoods’ Edible Bites video series, topics of discussion center on employment law trends, how different state laws for medical and recreational cannabis impact employees, and how organizations should...more

Saiber LLC

Legalization of Cannabis in New Jersey Means Employers Should Revise Their Workplace Policies

Saiber LLC on

On February 22, 2021, Governor Philip Murphy signed into law a trio of bills that collectively legalize adult use of recreational cannabis in the State of New Jersey.  The legalization of cannabis, more commonly referred to...more

Epstein Becker & Green

New Jersey’s Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Protects Employee Users While Still Prohibiting High Times at Work

Epstein Becker & Green on

On February 22, 2021, Governor Murphy signed three separate cannabis reform bills into law that formally legalize the use and possession of recreational marijuana in the Garden state: (1) the “New Jersey Cannabis Regularly,...more

57 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 3

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide