We continue our annual tradition of covering legal trends and outlook for this year, focusing this week on employment and labor. Following several years of pandemic-focused legislation, we are now seeing a significant uptick in new employment legislation and emerging work-related trends across the country. The following are a few of the issues and trends
Labor Relations
Covenants not to Compete: The End of an Era
On January 5, 2023, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan announced a proposed federal regulation that, if enacted, would invalidate non-competes and similar restrictive covenants that are routinely used by companies to limit a former employee’s professional activities post-employment. The proposed rule would not only ban the future use of non-compete clauses for workers…
China’s Semiconductor and Advanced Computing Industries Targeted by New Department of Commerce Export Restrictions
This week we are pleased to have a guest post from Edward Heath and Kevin Daly. Attorneys Heath and Daly are members of Robinson+Cole’s Manufacturing Industry Team and regularly counsel clients on trade compliance, anti-corruption compliance, and other corporate compliance issues.
On October 7, 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced a series of…
As Unions Worm their Way into Apple, Inc., NLRB Alleges a ULP
This week we are pleased to have a guest post by Robinson+Cole Labor and Employment Group lawyers Natale V. DiNatale and Kayla N. West.
Last month, the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint alleging that Apple, Inc. committed an unfair labor practice by prohibiting union flyers in the breakroom while permitting non-union solicitations…
OFCCP Issues Summer Guidance on Affirmative Action Certification Requirement for Federal Contractors
As most federal contractors are likely aware, this year marked the first year when covered entities were required to certify compliance with their annual affirmative action plan requirement using the new Contractor Portal of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Federal contractors (and subcontractors) that are subject to such requirements now must certify…
Webinar—Union Organizing is Rising Significantly: Are Your Supervisors Ready?
With pro-union sentiments at heights not seen in decades and a union-friendly political climate, union representation petitions are up 57 percent. Employers should understand the significance of unionization and ensure their businesses, operations, and supervisors are ready. At noon on Tuesday, June 14, Robinson+Cole will host a webinar where Labor and Employment Group lawyers…
Union Representation Petitions Are Up 57 Percent, but That’s Not All!
This week we are pleased to have a guest post by Robinson+Cole Labor and Employment Group lawyers Natale V. DiNatale and Kayla N. West.
Americans view labor unions more favorably than they have in decades, and the recent shift in support seems to be yielding results. The private sector unionization rate was just 6.1…
Recognizing the Critical Importance of Pay Equity in Manufacturing
This week’s post was co-authored by Robinson+Cole Labor and Employment Group lawyer Emily A. Zaklukiewicz.
National Equal Pay Day, a presidentially-proclaimed day intended to draw attention to gender-based pay disparities in the United States and beyond, was celebrated across the country on March 15, 2022. In recent years, this day has gained even more…
Who’s calling the shots? A look at the current status of COVID-19 vaccine mandates
Below is an excerpt of an article co-authored with Kayla N. West and Jonathan H. Schaefer that was published in ISHN on February 16, 2022.
The article points out that since the COVID-19 vaccination was made available to the public in late 2020, the topic of vaccination has been widely discussed across the country, in…
Navigating the Pitfalls of Romantic or Close Relationships in the Workplace
This week’s post was co-authored by Robinson+Cole Labor and Employment Group lawyer Emily A. Zaklukiewicz.
In today’s world, employees in manufacturing and similar industries spend a majority of their time on-site at work, engaging in work, and communicating with other employees. Over time, employees may form close bonds with other employees, including friendships, close…