Four Ward and Smith team members delivered concise, actionable insights on projected governmental and policy changes resulting from the recent elections, the Corporate Transparency Act, the implications of the Chevron...more
1/9/2025
/ Biden Administration ,
Chevron Deference ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Government Agencies ,
Independent Contractors ,
Labor Reform ,
Muldrow v City of St Louis ,
NLRB ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Over-Time ,
SCOTUS ,
SEC v Jarkesy ,
Trump Administration ,
White-Collar Exemptions
The session used the firm’s signature Live-Action Role-Play (LARP) technique to feature insights from Ken Gray, leader of the Labor and Employment Law Group, Amy Fitzhugh, a professional licensing attorney, and Hayley Wells,...more
12/18/2024
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Documentation ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Independent Contractors ,
Misclassification ,
OSHA ,
Serious Health Conditions ,
Termination ,
Tobacco ,
Workers' Compensation Claim
A federal judge in Texas struck down the U.S. Department of Labor's ("DOL") rule that drastically increased the minimum salary thresholds for bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees (the "EAP...more
The hospitality industry is a fast-paced sector that juggles a myriad of issues from high worker turnover to shortages of workers. In addition to these inherent challenges, the industry must also comply with a multitude of...more
On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") announced a final rule that will increase the Fair Labor Standards Act's ("FLSA") minimum salary threshold for overtime exemptions (the "2024 Rule"). Starting July 1,...more
At Ward and Smith's recent In-House Counsel event, four Ward and Smith attorneys shared insights on a variety of legal topics, including updates from the General Assembly, how to navigate insurance policies, a Supreme Court...more
3/27/2024
/ Abortion ,
Alcohol Beverage Control ,
Commercial Real Estate Market ,
Duty to Defend ,
General Assembly ,
Horse Racing ,
Insurance Industry ,
Licensing Rules ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Negotiations ,
SCOTUS ,
Sports Betting ,
Sports Gambling ,
State Budgets
For employers, ethical issues can shake up every aspect of an organization. Scandals can be detrimental to an organization's success and its public perception. Particularly, in recent years, misconduct tied to racial and...more
In a discussion led by employment law attorney Will Oden, two experienced North Carolina employment attorneys who represent employees shared insights on their respective practices representing employees, and best practices...more
On August 11, 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ("NPRM") to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act ("PWFA"). PWFA went into effect on June 27, 2023,...more
In the midst of one of the hottest summers on record, the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB" or the "Board") is putting the heat on employers.
In a recent decision issued on August 2, 2023, the NLRB has assumed the...more
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion issued yesterday in Groff vs. Dejoy, changed the standard that most employers must consider and apply when deciding how to deal with – and when they may lawfully reject –...more
Five Ward and Smith attorneys delivered keen guidance on a host of matters pertinent to in-house counsel and company preparation for the imminent economic climate.
As part of the firm's 2022 In-House Counsel Seminar,...more
On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") proposed a rule that would ban non-compete agreements between employers and workers on the basis that non-compete clauses are unfair methods of competition. While the...more
On October 31, 2022, National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") General Counsel, Jennifer A. Abruzzo, published a memorandum outlining a new framework she intends to use to advocate for restricting overreaching employer...more