Category: HR Law Alert

As you’re probably aware, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act requires that employers with 15 or more employees make reasonable accommodations for employees’ religious practices and beliefs, so long as it doesn’t cause an undue hardship. Previously, undue hardship – as it applied to religious accommodations – meant “more than a de minimis cost.” […]

The following changes to Virginia employment law take effect on July 1, 2023. Organ Donation Leave Employers with 50 or more employees will be required to provide unpaid leave to donate an organ or bone marrow. To be eligible for leave, employees must have worked for the employer for at least 12 months and worked […]

Federal employment law is about to give birth to some long-overdue requirements. As of June 27, 2023, employers with 15 or more employees must provide pregnancy-related accommodations to employees and applicants under the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). Below we’ll refer to employees and applicants collectively as “employees.” Pregnancy Related Accommodations Under the PWFA, […]

As we let you know last October, the end date for the COVID-related I-9 verification flexibility was (and still is) scheduled for July 31, 2023. Given the number of times this deadline had been extended, it seemed possible, though not probable, that it would be extended yet again. However, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) […]

The following changes to Virginia employment law apply as of January 1, 2023. Minimum Wage The state’s minimum wage will increase to $12 per hour. The minimum base wage for tipped employees remains at $2.13 per hour. Human Trafficking Training for Hotel Employees Hotel employers of any size must train employees how to recognize and […]

Beginning on January 1, 2023, the minimum wage for work performed on or in connection with federal contracts will increase as follows: For contracts covered by Executive Order 13658: the minimum wage will increase to $12.15 per hour and the minimum base wage for tipped employees will increase to $8.50 per hour. For contracts covered by Executive Order […]

The District of Columbia now requires that employers of all sizes that have one or more tipped employees (i.e., those they take a tip credit for) provide sexual harassment training by the end of the year and submit certain certification and documentation to the DC Office of Human Rights (OHR). These requirements were enacted in […]

Election Day is almost here, so as an employer, now is a good time to brush up on voting leave laws. Most states require that employers provide at least a few hours off to vote, and many of those require at least some of that time off to be paid. The advance notice that may […]

It’s feast or famine with federal employment law news, and this month, we are well fed! USERRA Expanded to Protect FEMA Workers The federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), which applies to employers of all sizes, has been expanded to provide employment protections to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Reservists while they […]

The District of Columbia has amended its antidiscrimination law to add homeless status as a protected characteristic, to broadly define harassment and sexual harassment, and to cover independent contractors. DC’s antidiscrimination law applies to employers of all sizes. The changes apply as of October 1, 2022. Homeless Status DC now includes homeless status as a […]