09/12/2013
Executive Briefing is an electronic newsletter that focuses on emerging developments in employment, labor law and employee benefits.
Access the full PDF version of the Employment and Labor Law/Employee Benefits Alert: Executive Briefing, September 2013
U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Same-Sex Marriage: What Does This Mean For Employers?Given the states' divergent treatment of same-sex couples – and the proliferation of marriage-like recognition, such as civil unions and domestic partnerships – what, exactly, will federal law recognize as a valid same-sex marriage? Federal agencies, most notably the Internal Revenue Service, have recently begun answering this and other pressing questions left in the wake of United States v. Windsor. Read the full eBrief for more information.
New OFCCP Rules Place Additional Requirements on Government Contractors for Hiring Individuals with Disabilities and VeteransUnder sweeping new OFCCP rules, federal government contractors and subcontractors will be required to establish a "hiring goal" that requires "7 percent of each job group in their workforce be qualified individuals with disabilities" and to adopt annual hiring benchmarks for protected veterans. According to the OFCCP, the goals and benchmarks are "aspirational" not quotas, and were created to "give contractors a yardstick against which they can measure the success of their efforts in outreach to and recruitment of" individuals with disabilities and covered veterans. Read the full eBrief to learn more regarding the new rules and for a links to the OFCCP's list of FAQs that provide information and compliance assistance.
USCIS Streamlines “TNC” Communications for E-Verify Users The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently rolled out enhancements to the Tentative Nonconfirmation (TNC) process in E-Verify. The process is now simplified by the combination of two old forms – the TNC Notice and the Referral Letter – into a new form titled, “Further Action Notice.” Read the full eBrief to learn more about the Further Action Notice and this streamlined process.
Even as Unionization Declines, Employers Should Not Forget Basic Union-Free Strategies A 30-year decline in unionization seems to be a reason that non-government employers now consider union-free status to be the norm and place less emphasis on strategies for maintaining a union-free workforce. However, a recent federal court case serves as a reminder why employers that want to remain union-free should not lose sight of basic union-free strategies. Read the full eBrief to learn what these basic strategies entail.
Basic Steps Employers Should Take to Protect Confidential Information in the Digital Age The challenges of protecting confidential business information continue to increase in our digital world. Critical business information can literally be stolen with the click of a mouse. So what is an employer to do? Read the full eBrief to learn some basic strategies every employer should consider.
Other News – Government Agency Apps The NLRB has launched a free app designed to provide information about rights and responsibilities under the NLRA. Also, the DOL's Wage and Hour Division recently announced a contest to develop an app that will allow users to determine whether a business is in compliance with the law.