As featured in #WorkforceWednesday:  This week, we look at two significant court decisions for employers and bring you a practical update on new bereavement leave rules in Illinois.

SCOTUS: FAA Preempts California’s PAGA Loophole

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that an individual claim under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) is subject to an arbitration agreement. This ruling will apply to all pending and future PAGA litigation involving otherwise enforceable arbitration agreements with class and representative action waivers. Read more.

Fifth Circuit Rules COVID-19 Is Not a Natural Disaster Under WARN

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held last week that the onset of COVID-19 did not qualify as a “natural disaster” that would have exempted a drilling company from providing employees with Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices in March 2020. This is the first appellate court to rule on this issue.

Illinois Expands Bereavement Leave

Following a growing nationwide trend, Illinois recently enacted amendments to its Child Bereavement Leave Act, a law which previously permitted employees to take up to 10 unpaid workdays to mourn the loss of a child. Read more.

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Employment Law This Week^® gives a rundown of the top developments in employment and labor law and workforce management in a matter of minutes every #WorkforceWednesday.

See below for the video and podcast links. For Other Highlights and more news, visit https://www.ebglaw.com/eltw260.

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