The attorneys at Morningstar Law Group are leaders who are frequently asked to share their legal insights and expertise. Here is a sampling of the wisdom our attorneys are sharing at industry conferences, in published articles, and at continuing legal education events.
Insight
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alert: Emergency National Paid Leave Law
March 19, 2020
On Saturday, March 14, 2020 the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”), which provides for emergency supplemental appropriations to address the effects of COVID-19, including an expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) coverage (The Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act) and […]
Insight
Q: An employee notified management late this afternoon that their partner might have COVID-19 but cannot be tested until Monday. What should we do?
March 17, 2020
Answer: Ask the employee to voluntarily stay home pending the test, and advise them to get medical attention if they experience known symptoms of COVID-19 (fever and cough). If the employee can work from home, that would be ideal. If not, PTO or other paid or unpaid leave policies could be used. STD and ADA […]
Insight
Q: Should we impose limits on business travel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? What about personal travel?
March 17, 2020
Answer: The State Department and Center for Disease Control (CDC) have been providing international travel guidance for weeks and in the case of some locations, months. Along with other developments last week, on Friday, President Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency and the CDC warned Americans about traveling within the United States, bringing travel precautions […]
Insight
Q: The Governor issued an Executive Order closing public schools and banning mass gatherings of 100 or more people. What impact does this have on my workforce management?
March 17, 2020
Answer: The North Carolina Governor’s Office issued an Executive Order Saturday, March 14, 2020 banning gatherings of more than 100 people and directing the closure of K-12 public schools to limit the spread of COVID-19 (The “Order”)). https://files.nc.gov/governor/documents/files/EO117-COVID-19-Prohibiting-Mass-Gathering-and-K12-School-Closure.pdf. This Order will have an immediate impact on workforces across the State. For the duration of the […]
Insight
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Thirteen Action Items to Protect Your Workforce
March 13, 2020
It’s Friday the 13th. Sure feels like it. And, COVID-19 is playing the role of “Jason.” Just this week, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the stock market plummeted, the NBA, MLB, and NHL suspended their seasons, colleges told students not to return to campus after spring break, high school sports programs were […]
Insight
Is the COVID-19 Pandemic a Force Majeure?
March 13, 2020
The COVID-19 outbreak, now deemed a pandemic by the World Health Organization, is disrupting supply chains globally, leaving many companies unable to perform contracts or supply products to their customers, but is COVID-19 a force majeure that will shield affected companies from liability for non-performance? Under US law, the answer depends primarily on the terms […]
Insight
New Jersey is Latest US State to Ban Salary History Inquiries in Recruiting
August 15, 2019
New Jersey is the 17th U.S. State to enact restrictions on employers’ inquiry into and use of salary histories in recruiting and employment decisions. NJ’s new Salary History law goes into effect on Jan 1, 2020. The law makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to: screen a job applicant based on the applicant’s […]
Insight
Workforce Alert: Just over 60 Days Left to Comply with NY’s New Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Avoidance Training Law
August 1, 2019
The State of New York implemented new employee training regulations effective October 9, 2018, with compliant training for existing employees to be first completed by October 9, 2019. The law requires sexual harassment and discrimination avoidance training for all employees who spend any time working in the State of New York, regardless of the size […]
Insight
Workforce Alert: New Statute Grants Virginia Employees Access to Certain Employment Records
July 2, 2019
As of July 1, 2019, Virginia Code §8.01-413.1 becomes effective, requiring employers to provide both employees and former employees (or their attorney) copies of all records or papers retained by the employer in any format reflecting: (i) the employee’s dates of employment with the employer; (ii) the employee’s wages or salary during the employment; (iii) the employee’s […]
Insight
2019 CLE: Issue-Spotting on Background Checks
May 10, 2019
At Morningstar Law Group’s annual CLE program, Amie Carmack andEric R. Hunt addressed current issues related to contracting with third parties to perform background and other checks on prospective employees and contractors. Click here to review their presentation.