Labor & Employment Law Update

The Seventh Circuit recently affirmed summary judgment for the employer in Miller v. St. Joseph County, a race discrimination case, and in doing so applied what may prove to be a streamlined standard for determining whether employment discrimination plaintiffs can survive summary judgment.

The plaintiff in Miller was a long-time employee of the county’s police department who sought several promotions which he did not receive. He alleged, among other things, that the promotion denials, a temporary assignment he disliked (but which did not change his compensation ...

In the past, dress codes were straightforward. Depending on the nature of the business, they required a “neat, clean uniform” or perhaps “professional attire” and banned tube tops and flip flops. But as visible body art becomes more mainstream, many employers find themselves struggling to decide whether and where to draw the lines when drafting a personal appearance policy that works for their business.

As a starting point, body art itself is not a legally protected characteristic so bans are generally permissible. However, employers should be mindful that some tattoos ...

The Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (“Trade Bill”), signed into law by President Obama on June 29, significantly increases potential penalties for employers and insurers that fail to comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements, beginning in early 2016.

As a reminder:

• IRS Code 6056 requires employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees to file reports with the IRS annually stating whether the employer offered health coverage to full-time employees and their dependents during the preceding calendar year.
• IRS Code 6055 requires all ...

Recently, a California labor commissioner found that an Uber driver was an employee and not an independent contractor (“IC”), awarding the driver over $4,000 in expenses (Uber Techs., Inc. v. Berwick, CGC-15-546378 (Cal. Sup. Ct. June 16, 2015)). Similar lawsuits, including class action matters, are being filed around the country.  The implications for Uber are huge: unemployment taxes, workers’ compensation insurance, minimum wage, overtime, and third-party tort liability to start.

What is so surprising about this ruling is that Uber drivers seem to ...

The Older Workers Benefits Protection Act (OWBPA) amended the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) back in 1990 to specifically permit bona fide seniority systems and voluntary early retirement incentive plans.  Along with these allowances, the OWBPA mandated strict requirements for ADEA waivers and disclosures for group termination.  The provisions are very technical and have tripped up many unsuspecting employers.

To be effective a waiver must be “knowing and voluntary.”  That sounds straightforward, but the statute specifically spells out what ...