On March 18, the United States House of Representatives passed HR 2116 by a vote of 235-to-189. The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act (a/k/a CROWN Act), would restrict discrimination on the basis of...more
Those responsible for employee onboarding can breathe a sigh of relief after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week announced that they would extend flexibilities that were instituted last year as a result of...more
This is the sixth post in a 12-part series on how companies can show support for the Black Lives Matter movement by changing company policies and practices. This post focuses on the importance of updating grooming/personal...more
Despite the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, business—and hiring—must go on. As the EEOC continues to update its guidance regarding employment practices during the pandemic, here are common questions regarding how to implement...more
On Thursday, January 30, members of Verrill’s Labor & Employment Group and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group conducted a full-day seminar on employment law topics to prepare HR professionals, managers, and...more
2/20/2020
/ Analytics ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Automation Systems ,
Biometric Information ,
Biometric Information Privacy Act ,
Blockchain ,
Code of Conduct ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Ethics ,
General Wellness Devices ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Privacy Laws ,
Risk Assessment ,
Risk Management ,
Transparency ,
Wearable Technology
The last decade has brought with it a significant increase in the number of claims stemming from allegations of discrimination or retaliation as a result of mental health conditions. While we often see an increase in anxiety...more
12/19/2019
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Mental Health ,
OSHA ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Retaliation ,
State Labor Laws ,
Workers' Compensation Claim
On October 30, 2019, Verrill and MassPay held an in-person seminar program on how to build a respectful and inclusive workplace. Presenters Sheri Heller, of MassPay, and Tawny Alvarez, of Verrill, helped attendees navigate...more
The last week has been filled with news broadcasts, jokes, and general discussion of the use of a Sharpie to extend the path of movement of Hurricane Dorian in a map presented during a news broadcast given by President Donald...more
The Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, also known as USERRA, has multiple responsibilities for employers and employees. In this episode of HR Law 101, attorney Tawny Alvarez will highlight a few...more
6/12/2019
/ At-Will Employment ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Policies ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Military Leave ,
Military Service Members ,
USERRA ,
Veterans ,
Wage and Hour
Many business owners and HR professionals look for a concise and straight forward employee handbook. The truth is, there isn't just one universal handbook to put on a shelf with all you need to know. Listen to this episode of...more
6/12/2019
/ Corporate Culture ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Handbooks ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Medical Leave ,
Notification Requirements ,
Paid Leave ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unpaid Leave ,
Wage and Hour
On April 12, 2019, Governor Mills signed into law LD 278, “An Act Regarding Pay Equality.” Under the new laws (5 M.R.S.A. § 4577; 26 M.R.S.A. § 628-A) employers may not “use or inquire about the compensation history of a...more
On March 22, 2019, a federal judge permitted an Ohio man’s class action lawsuit to proceed against Ford Motor Company. The lawsuit alleges the company discriminated against disabled job applicants because its online job...more
4/1/2019
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Class Action ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Disparate Impact ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Job Applicants ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Motion To Strike ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Title III ,
Website Accessibility
We talk a lot about the importance of diversity in the workforce: Having a diverse group of employees. The ability to choose from a diverse group of applicants. Making a job attractive to diverse candidates. While some...more
In this episode of HR Law 101: Understanding the HR Basics, Verrill Dana labor and employment attorney Tawny Alvarez discusses the obligations that employers have under federal law to provide a non-discriminatory environment...more
Job descriptions are important for ensuring that employers and employees are on the same page as to job duties and expectations, but what should be included? This episode of HR Law 101: Understanding the HR Basics, featuring...more
In this episode of HR Law 101: Understanding the HR Basics, Verrill Dana labor and employment attorney Tawny Alvarez walks listeners through onboarding best practices, including what paperwork and training are required by law...more
You’ve been tasked with hiring a new employee, but where do you start? In this episode of HR Law 101: Understanding the HR Basics, Verrill Dana labor and employment attorney Tawny Alvarez focuses on the nuances and pitfalls...more
[Letter to Byron D. Verrill, who in 1862 began the law practice known today as Verrill Dana, LLP] -
Dear Byron D. Verrill -
When I’m interviewing applicants for a new position is it okay for me to ask about prior or current...more