The Louisiana Supreme Court rendered a landmark decision on May 5 holding that gradual hearing loss tort claims against employers are barred because those claims are compensable under the Louisiana Workers Compensation Act (“the Act”) as an “occupational disease” under the Act’s post-1975 definition of that term and as an “accident” under the Act’s pre-1990
The United States has long had policies prohibiting government employees and government contractors from engaging in trafficking of persons, and the recent Executive Order, titled “Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts”, and Title XVII of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 have served to heighten the requirements on federal
On Thursday, March 26, 2015 a U.S. District Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas granted a preliminary injunction, staying the U.S. Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) final rule that would expand certain leave protections for same-sex couples under the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2611
On Monday, March 9, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal agencies do not have to follow notice-and-comment rulemaking procedures when changing interpretations of rules. This decision gives federal agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations Board, wide latitude to change interpretive rules without first notifying the public of
For many Louisianans, the Mardi Gras and President’s Day office and school closures equate with travel time. For some, it will mean a time to flock west to hit the slopes – including in Colorado, a state that has legalized marijuana for recreational use.
Employers in many states have grappled with the legal and practical
Even if you are using the most current model FMLA forms from the U.S. Department of Labor, some of those forms “expire” at the end of February. When an employee advises his or her employer of the need (or possible need) for FMLA-qualifying leave, the employer must timely provide the employee with a “Notice of
On January 26, 2015, Saks Fifth Avenue withdrew a pleading that had sparked the attention of federal agencies and gender rights activists. In so doing, Saks abandoned its previously-pled position that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal anti-discrimination statute, does not protect transgender individuals. Gender rights activities tout the withdrawal
“Throw me something, mister!” A labor dispute between dock workers and shipping companies on the West Coast has delayed shipments of signature Mardi Gras beads to the Big Easy (along with countless other items stuck in gridlock).
The longshoremen in question have been working without a collective bargaining agreement since July, when the prior CBA
In recent months, the EEOC has made clear that protections for LGBT workers remains a priority for the EEOC. Before Thanksgiving, the EEOC published a document entitled “What you Should Know about EEOC and the Enforcement Protections for LGBT Workers,” in which the EEOC touted its enforcement efforts in this area and reaffirmed its commitment
We have become accustomed to having regular check-ups with our doctors. The doctor will analyze our current physical condition, including heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol level, lung condition or otherwise. The doctor may order a treadmill test or a screening for a particular function. The doctor will also compare current test results to any prior