Viewing employers as a potential (or maybe even, likely) enemy, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is continuing to sign Memoranda of Understanding MOU with different federal agencies. The latest agreement was signed this week by NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo and Jonathan Kanter, assistant attorney general and head of the antitrust division of the…
Read More »In a similar vein, New York has been stepping up efforts to seek felony convictions of businesses accused of wage theft in the Empire State. Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James last week announced that the state Wage Theft Task Force had secured charges against a dozen businesses – including some restaurants – and…
Read More »The state of Virginia, which in 2019 became a democrat trifecta state for the first time, this week became the first state to adopt an emergency workplace standard specific to the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Ralph Northam announced a new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which mandates that workers be provided with personal protective equipment this week.…
Read More »Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker yesterday signed the Pregnant Workers Protection Act (H3680) into law requiring employers in the Commonwealth to make reasonable workplace accommodations for pregnant workers. Under the new law, which hadn’t been able to gain much traction in several past sessions, it is illegal for employers in the state to choose not hire…
Read More »A bill easing the process for workers to unionize has been filed in both the US House and Senate by Congressman Bobby Scott (D – VA 3) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) respectively. Among its many provisions, the so-called Wage Act (Workplace Action for a Growing Economy) would strengthen existing worker protections, triple backpay penalties…
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