Here's what you should know.
1.13.2010
Change in Law Regarding Employer Mandated Meetings
Effective January 1, 2010, Oregon law gives employees the right to opt out of certain employer mandated meetings and requires employers (regardless of the size) to post a communication in the workplace regarding that right.
12.2.2009
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) Took Effect on
GINA prohibits discrimination by employers (and health insurers) on the basis of genetic information."Genetic information" is defined broadly to include, among other things, information about "the manifestation of a disease or disorder in family…
10.2.2009
Diversity Lottery 2011 Opens
The U.S. Department of State opens entries for the Diversity Lottery 2011 (DV-2011) beginning October 2, 2009 at noon EDT, and ending November 30, 2009, at noon EST.
9.25.2009
Federal Contractors Are Required to Use E-Verify for Many Federal Contracts Awarded On or After September 8, 2009
Companies who receive federal contracts on or after September 8, 2009, must use the government E-Verify system to confirm their employees' eligibility to work in the United States if the federal contract includes the Federal Acquisition Regulation E…
8.31.2009
U.S. Department of Labor Sending Questionnaires to Certain H-1B Workers
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has begun sending detailed questionnaires to H-1B workers who are current or former employees of companies DOL is investigating. Please note that DOL states in the questionnaire that the H-1B worker is not required…
7.2.2009
ICE Form I-9 Audit Initiative: Are Employers Prepared?; H-1B Numbers Remain Available
On July 1, 2009, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") issued a news release announcing that it is launching "a bold, new [Form I-9] audit initiative" and has issued 652 Notices of Inspection (NOIs) to employers nationwide.
4.29.2009
Governor Kulongoski Signs Legislation Modifying Oregon's Mini-COBRA
In previous alerts, we informed you about changes to COBRA affected by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("ARRA").
4.28.2009
Court Clarifies ADA Requirements
Last month U.S. District Court Judge Anna Brown made a ruling that adds some clarity to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) and Oregon Disability Law. In Neal v. Kraft Foods…
3.20.2009
Recovery Act Model COBRA Notices Now Available
The Department of Labor has now posted model notices and corresponding instructions in their web site.
3.3.2009
The IRS and Department of Labor post forms, facts, and clarifications of changes to COBRA as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Last week, we notified you of the substantial changes to COBRA resulting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the "Recovery Act").
2.26.2009
Significant Changes to COBRA Take Effect Immediately Under the New Recovery Act
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("Recovery Act").
2.11.2009
New H-1B Filings -- April 1 Deadline
April 1, 2009 is the filing deadline for new H-1B petitions to be made under the USCIS H-1B quota (assuming, as in the past, that H-1B quota availability will be immediately exhausted). USCIS may soon announce a longer filing window, as it did last…
9.23.2008
Proposed Amendments to the ADA
Last week, the Senate and the House of Representatives passed a bill that significantly expands workplace protections for Americans with disabilities.
6.10.2008
Supreme Court Decisions Likely to Result in Increased Number of Retaliation Claims
In two decisions issued on the same day at the end of May, the Supreme Court ruled that employees are protected from retaliation when they complain about discrimination in the workplace, adopting a broad interpretation of workers' rights under two…
4.8.2008
Department of Homeland Security Responds to SSA No-Match
In October, we told you that the United States District Court for the Northern District of California granted an injunction against the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) new "Safe-Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter…
3.25.2008
When Drug Policies and Employment Privacy Rights Collide
In a case involving the city of Woodburn, the Ninth Circuit held that an employer's policy of requiring pre-employment drug testing was unconstitutional as applied to the particular position the prospective employee applied for.
3.11.2008
Employer's Liability to Excluding Third Parties from Work Premises
In a case involving the University of Oregon, the Oregon Court of Appeals made a favorable ruling for employers who exclude outside persons from their work premises in response to complaints by employees.
2.12.2008
Revisions and Amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Department of Labor has released proposed revisions to the Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA") regulations.
2.6.2008
Oregon's Domestic Partner Insurance Mandate
On February 5, 2008 the Oregon Insurance Division issued a bulletin mandating that all group health and life insurance policies issued or renewed in Oregon after March 31, 2008 include same-gender domestic partner coverage, if coverage is offered for…
1.8.2008
Employment Law Changes in the New Year
The New Year has arrived! This means that all the statutory changes we discussed in our last two issues are now in full effect.