Starting on October 26, 2009, employers in New York State must give newly hired employees written notice of their regular hourly pay rate. For employees who are entitled to receive overtime pay, employers also must state their overtime rate. Employers also need to obtain written confirmation from new employees, confirming…
In two previous articles, I discussed important rulings the Third Circuit Court of Appeals made in Erdman v. Nationwide Insurance Company regarding the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Specifically, that case rules that an employee’s time worked from home counts toward the FMLA’s 1,250 hour eligibility requirement if the…
Last week, I discussed the Third Circuit’s recent decision regarding when time worked from home counts toward the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)’s 1,250 hour eligibility requirement. The same case, Erdman v. Nationwide Insurance Company, also addresses whether an employee who requests but does not receive an FMLA leave…
On September 23, 2009, in Erdman v. Nationwide Insurance Company, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit discussed when an employee’s time working from home counts toward the 1,250 minimum hours required for an employee to be covered by the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The…
New York City’s Broad Definition of Harassment Earlier this year, the New York Supreme Court’s Appellate Division interpreted the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) much more broadly than courts have interpreted New York State and federal employment laws prohibiting discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Under state and federal anti-discrimination…
Earlier this year, New York State Gov. David Paterson signed a law that amends the New York Human Rights Law to prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis of an individual’s status as a victim of domestic violence. As a result, it is now unlawful for employers in New York…
On July 15, 2009, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued guidance to employees who are offered severance agreements that include releases of employment law claims after they have been laid off or otherwise fired. More specifically, the EEOC’s guidance answers questions employees might have regarding severance agreements…
On May 22, 2009, in the case of Sassaman v. Gamache, Commissioner, Dutchess County Board of Elections, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reinstated the gender discrimination claim of an employee who was forced to resign because another employee accused him of sexual harassment. The Second…
On June 26, 2009, in Stengart v. Loving Care Agency, Inc., New Jersey’s Appellate Division ruled that confidential emails employees send to their lawyers using company computers are protected by the attorney-client privilege. Under the attorney-client privilege, communications made in confidence between lawyers and their clients in the course of…
The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of age. Among other things, it prohibits employers from firing, refusing to hire or requiring an employee to retire because of their age. However, the LAD expressly does not prohibit employers from refusing to…