Welcome to FP Forecast, a monthly outlook featuring Fisher Phillips thought leaders providing their insights into what employers can expect in 2022 and beyond. By following along each month, you’ll be in the best position to...more
1/26/2022
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Litigation ,
Employment Policies ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Incentives ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
OSHA ,
Tax Liability ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Perhaps no workplace law issue has generated more controversy in recent memory than the battle over the Biden administration’s vaccine rules currently being waged at the Supreme Court. The good news? By accelerating the...more
1/3/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Oral Argument ,
OSHA ,
Popular ,
Stays ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
It’s no secret that employers are desperately seeking workers to fill open positions, but there may an under-the-radar reason contributing to the workforce shortage: opportunities created by cryptocurrency and non-fungible...more
Federal officials have recently warned employers and businesses that they could have insult added to injury if they respond to cyberattacks by making ransomware payments – increasingly requested through cryptocurrency – as...more
10/29/2021
/ Bad Actors ,
Best Practices ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Enforcement Actions ,
New Guidance ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Ransomware ,
Sanctions
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) released a September 24 statement declaring that all cryptocurrency-related transactions will be deemed illegal and that foreign exchanges are banned from providing services to residents in...more
NFTs – or non-fungible tokens – are increasingly popular among artists, sports figures, and the video game industry. But NFTs (some selling for upwards of eight figures) are not just for gamers, Mark Cuban, and the ultra...more
9/15/2021
/ Best Practices ,
Blockchain ,
Confidential Information ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Protection ,
Data Security ,
Data Storage ,
Data Transfers ,
Encryption ,
Health Care Providers ,
Job Applicants ,
Medical Records ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Proof of Ownership
The news this morning that the federal government fully approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine could be a pivotal milestone in the fight against the coronavirus – especially when it comes to employers’ role in the battle. After...more
As ransomware attacks continue to become more of a concern for employers of all sizes, an increasing number of hackers are demanding cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin in exchange for ending their attack. The recent ransomware...more
7/14/2021
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cyber Crimes ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Digital Currency ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Hackers ,
Phishing Scams ,
Popular ,
Ransomware
Employers are increasingly operating in a world where business and workplace operations are becoming technology driven and data-intensive. More frequently, employers are relying on technology to collect, store, and process...more
The healthcare industry has unique data management needs as it deals with patient information that is sensitive, personal, and confidential. However, this data is often stored and spread across different facilities and...more
7/14/2021
/ Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Data Management ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Protection ,
Data Security ,
Data Storage ,
Data-Sharing ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Electronic Medical Records ,
Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Information Technologies ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Information Blocking Rules ,
Physicians ,
Popular
The announcement yesterday from the CDC that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any non-healthcare setting was a welcome relief for all Americans and a hopeful sign that we have...more
In an attempt to boost the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination rate, President Joe Biden announced yesterday that small- and medium-sized employers offering vaccine-related paid leave will be eligible for a significant tax credit....more
Now that the country is on course to see all adult Americans eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in a matter of days, and an increasing number of employees are returning to the workplace, vaccination status is likely to be an...more
The vast majority of employers are not considering mandating their employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine, instead choosing to encourage the shot – but a significant number of businesses remain confused and uncertain on...more
Employers now have clarification that they will be able mandate the COVID-19 vaccine among their workers in certain circumstances without running afoul of key federal anti-discrimination laws, according to updated guidance...more
12/17/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Interactive Process ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Religious Accommodation ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
As most know by now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S on Friday, December 11, and the first Americans began to receive the vaccine yesterday...more
A recent report from the federal government revealing that workplace safety whistleblower claims have exponentially increased during the pandemic should give all employers pause – and should motivate you to take immediate...more
It’s hard to keep up with all the recent changes to labor and employment law. While the law always seems to evolve at a rapid pace, there have been an unprecedented number of changes for the past few years—and this past month...more
9/10/2020
/ Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Independent Contractors ,
Medical Leave ,
Misclassification ,
NLRB ,
Paid Leave ,
Payroll Taxes ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Remote Working ,
Telecommuting ,
Unemployment Benefits ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wrongful Death
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently released two new technical assistance documents that address issues concerning the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in relation to the use of...more
8/14/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Drug Testing ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Health and Safety ,
Health Care Providers ,
Hiring & Firing ,
New Guidance ,
Opioid ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Reasonable Accommodation
During the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have had to manage an ever-increasing variety of stressful employee related issues. However, as the crisis surges forward, with multiple states facing increased rates of infection as...more
7/22/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Drug & Alcohol Abuse ,
Employee Training ,
Employment Policies ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Opioid ,
Performance Standards ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Substance Abuse ,
Supervisors ,
Workplace Safety