The US Supreme Court just agreed to hear a case asking just how much international unions will be allowed to meddle in the affairs of their local affiliates. In Granite Rock v. Teamsters, the employer sued the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in federal court claiming that the International interfered with the relationship between the employer and
Oregon Legislature Bans Mandatory Meetings
A new Oregon bill will prohibit employers from requiring employees to attend mandatory or "captive audience" meetings on, among other topics, labor unions. Governor Ted Kulongoski is expected to sign the bill, which would them become law effective January 1, 2010. Click here to read SB 519.
SB 519 prohibits an employer from taking action against
Proposed Law Would Guarantee Working Mothers Right to Breast-Feed in Workplace
Oregon Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley has announced he will today introduce the Breastfeeding Promotion Act (BPA) in the U.S. Senate. The BPA would guarantee working mothers the right to breast-feed their children at their workplaces. Click here to read about Merkley’s proposal on Oregonlive.com.
The bill is identical to one introduced yesterday in the House by Rep. Carolyn Maloney
Former Employee Wins $4.1 Billion, Dr. Evil Award
An arbitrator recently awarded $4.1 billion in favor of the former chief marketing officer of iFreedom Communications Inc., finding that iFreedom breached his employment contract by firing him without cause. You read that right: $4.1 billion, with a "b." U.S. Dollars, not Zimbabwean. Don’t believe us? You can read the opinion yourself: Chester v. iFreedom
Another Day, Another E-Verify Delay
It seems like just a couple days ago that we reported that implementation of the E-Verify System was delayed until June 30. Actually, it was a couple days ago. Well, you can forget that; the The Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has announced that it will delay mandatory use of E-Verify
E-Verify Delayed Yet Again!
Still another delay for implementation of the mandatory E-Verify system for federal contractors. The Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced for a third time that it will delay mandatory use of E-Verify, this time until June 30, 2009. Click here to read the USCIS’s press release on the delay. Click here for
New Senate Bill Would Bar Mandatory Arbitration of Employment Claims
A bill introduced in the United States Senate late last month will, if passed, prohibit mandatory, pre-dispute arbitration agreements in employment. Senate Bill 931, also known as the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009 (AFA) was introduced by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and seven co-sponsors. A similar bill, HR 1020, was introduced in the House of
IRS, DOL Publish New Info on COBRA Subsidy
Today the Department of Labor expanded its FAQs on the COBRA subsidies included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Click here to read the DOL’s new COBRA FAQs.
Wondering what the tax implications of the subsidy are, or whether the person asking for the subisidy is truly eligible? Click here to
DOL Issues FAQs on COBRA Subsidy
The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration has posted answers to 10 frequently asked questions regarding the COBRA subsidies included in the new stimulus package. Most relate to individual claims for the subsidy, but the information may be helpful to employers as well.
For more information about the subsidy, click here to read our
E-Verify Delayed (Again) Until May 21
Another delay for implementation of the mandatory E-Verify system: The Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that it will delay mandatory use of E-Verify until May 21, 2009. Click here to read DHS’s press release. Why the delay? The Obama Administration wants additional time to review this and other