On May 25, 2023, Gov. Tim Walz signed new legislation establishing Minnesota’s state-run family and medical leave program (the “Paid Leave Program”), and guaranteeing almost all Minnesota employees the right to paid family...more
The New Standard on Employer Rules and Policies -
Last month, the NLRB issued a ruling in the Stericycle case adopting a new legal standard regarding policies surrounding an employee’s right to organize. Under Section 7 of...more
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is poised to sign an omnibus bill recently passed by the Minnesota state legislature, which includes provisions that would broadly ban non-competition agreements throughout Minnesota beginning on...more
The Minnesota Legislature has passed legislation legalizing adult recreational cannabis use. The bill has been approved by both the House and Senate, and has been sent to the Governor’s desk for approval. This is a mere...more
In a recent decision issued in late February 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) held that the “mere proffer” of severance agreements with broad non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions violate the...more
The Minnesota legislature recently passed a bill that will prohibit discrimination against a person based on hair texture and hair styles that are associated with race. Approximately 20 states have passed similar measures,...more
In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) proposes prohibiting employers from entering into non-compete clauses with workers and requiring employers to rescind existing...more
The Minnesota Frontline Worker Pay Law, also referred to as the “hero pay” law, was signed into law on April 29, 2022, setting forth criteria for eligible COVID-19 frontline workers to receive a one-time bonus payment of up...more
Last week the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) withdrew its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that would have required businesses with 100 or more employees to put a policy in place that mandated either...more
2/1/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Health and Safety ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
On January 13, 2022, the United States Supreme Court (the “Court”) granted the stay of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring businesses with 100 or more...more
1/20/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Federal Contractors ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Lack of Authority ,
National Federation of Independent Business v Department of Labor and OSHA ,
OSHA ,
SCOTUS ,
Stays ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a widely anticipated Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring employers with at least 100 employees to ensure its employees are either vaccinated against...more
11/10/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Health and Safety ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
On June 15th, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation is illegal under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of...more
6/24/2020
/ Altitude Express Inc v Zarda ,
Bostock v Clayton County Georgia ,
Civil Rights Act ,
EEOC v RG & GR Harris Funeral Homes ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Gender Identity ,
Hiring & Firing ,
LGBTQ ,
SCOTUS ,
Sex Discrimination ,
Sexual Orientation ,
Sexual Orientation Discrimination ,
Title VII ,
Transgender
Minnesota’s stay at home order and social distancing measures have helped slow the spread of COVID-19 across the state. Recognizing the economic impact of these life-saving measures, especially for employees in non-critical...more
President Trump signed The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provides $2.2 trillion of support for families and businesses, partially through...more
The COVID-19 virus has impacted the world in unforeseen ways, and all businesses are balancing many questions as a result of these unique times. Below is a summary of some key considerations for banks in particular, including...more
As COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, becomes more widespread throughout the United States, employers must consider and implement policies to combat COVID-19 transmission in the workplace and protect their employees. If you do...more
3/12/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Best Practices ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Health ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Winthrop & Weinstine employment attorneys explain the Minneapolis Wage Theft Prevention Ordinance, set to take effect January 1, 2020....more
Winthrop & Weinstine employment law attorneys explain the impact of the overtime exemption rules issued by the Department of Labor, effective January 2020....more
Employment Law attorneys Mark Pihart, Laura Pfeiffer and Rachel Brygger discuss details of Minnesota's new Hands-Free Bill and what employers will need to do to stay in compliance....more
The Minnesota Legislature recently passed, and Governor Walz signed, the Jobs and Economic Development Omnibus Bill, which goes into effect as of July 1, 2019. The bill amends existing state labor laws and creates new civil...more
On November 22, 2016, just 10 days before the Department of Labor’s final rule on overtime exemptions was to become effective, a federal judge in Texas issued a preliminary injunction halting its implementation....more
On May 11, 2016, President Obama signed the Defend Trade Secrets Act ("DTSA") into law, which provides a federal cause of action for an employer to enforce their trade secrets. The DTSA takes effect immediately. Employers...more
On May 18, 2016, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued a final rule on overtime exemption likely to impact more than 4 million American workers and their employers. The DOL doubled the salary “white collar” employees must...more
5/31/2016
/ Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Exempt-Employees ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Final Rules ,
Minimum Salary ,
Non-Exempt Employees ,
Over-Time ,
Standard Duties Test ,
Unpaid Overtime ,
Wage and Hour ,
White-Collar Exemptions
The Women's Economic Security Act, recently signed into law by Governor Mark Dayton and designed to make economic progress achievable for Minnesota's women, makes a number of changes to existing laws, creating or expanding...more
Beginning May 7, 2013, all employers must begin using the new Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9, with a revision date of March 8, 2013. Employers who fail to use this new form beginning on May 7, 2013, may be...more