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What legal issues are keeping you up at night?
We are continuing to monitor key trends and significant updates that affect employers across a wide variety of industries. We want to make sure we touch upon issues that are of concern to you. We invite you to take a moment and let us know what you would like to hear more about in this newsletter. Click below to email our team of attorneys.
Updates
It's Okay to Not Be Okay! Unless You're an Employer Violating the FMLA
On May 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that the Wage and Hour Division published new Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Guidance. The DOL explained that the new Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions are focused on drawing attention to the use of FMLA leave to support employees' mental health. The new guidance provides additional resources for employers to better understand their employees' rights to take FMLA leave for serious mental health conditions.
Save a Life at Work with Naloxone Training
Don't wait until an employee or customer overdoses on opioids at your business to consider implementing a workplace naloxone program. Naloxone is a life-saving opioid overdose treatment that is administered as a nasal spray and is commonly known by its brand name, Narcan.
Medical Travel Benefits: What Employers Need to Know
Last month, the United States Supreme Court rendered its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, overruling Roe v. Wade and returning the issue of abortion to the states. Since the decision, abortion has become illegal in several states while continuing to be available in others. In response, some companies have announced that they will reimburse employees' medical travel expenses—expenses incurred to obtain medical care that is not locally available. This article describes some of the employee benefit considerations with respect to these reimbursement arrangements, which we call Medical Travel Benefits.
Education Roundup: Questions and Answers: Clearing Up Common Misconceptions for Independent Schools
Certain questions frequently arise in independent schools. With the following guidance in mind, independent schools may consider visiting (or revisiting) their policies and practices for the upcoming school year.
Attorney Spotlight
Benjamin Herold: My passion for Labor and Employment law comes from the opportunity to be the voice for our clients. Operating in a litigious state, California employers go to great lengths to comply with an ever-changing legal landscape. Despite these efforts, employers often still feel like easy targets for vilification and predatory litigation. I relish the opportunity to dive into discovery, take the difficult deposition, draft the motions, and craft the strategy that puts our client's story front and center and delivers a winning result.
About the Labor and Employment Group
The bicoastal, 40-person Labor and Employment team at Venable provides guidance and support across the full spectrum of workplace dynamics – helping employers control costs, avoid disputes, and defend themselves when litigation arises. As co-editors of this newsletter, Michael Volpe and Doreen Martin invite you to share the content with your colleagues and reach out with any questions.