Written by Andrea Moran The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension of the flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19. This temporary guidance was set to expire March 31, 2021. Because of ongoing precautions related to COVID-19, DHS has extended the Form I-9 flexibility policy an additional 60 days until...
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April 2, 2021 EL PASO, TX – ScottHulse, P.C., a full-service commercial law firm, held its 13th annual Labor and Employment Seminar: The Show Must Go On, on March 31, 2021. The annual event was held live through a virtual platform in which 220 local and regional business professionals attended. The seminar, which is designed for human resource professionals, managers, supervisors, executives, business owners, and...
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With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) issuing the first emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine, employers are scrambling to determine whether they can legally require their workers to take the vaccine amid the nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases. Yesterday, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) updated its COVID-19 guidance to provide employers with a road map detailing the steps businesses must take...
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By Luis F. Calvo On July 8, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 7-2 decision holding that Catholic schoolteachers cannot bring employment discrimination claims against the religious institutions that employ them. The Court reached its decision citing the so-called “ministerial exception,” based on the First Amendment’s protection of the rights of religious institutions “to decide for themselves, free from state interference, matters of church...
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By Luis F. Calvo On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark 6-3 decision extending Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s prohibitions against discriminations “because of sex” to gay, lesbian, and transgender employees. As a result, “[a]n employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender” violates Title VII. The Supreme Court issued a single decision...
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Written by David S. Hansen Among the early stimulus/relief measures that the U.S. government passed earlier this month was a refundable tax credit for paid sick leave paid by certain employers under specified conditions. The IRS recently released some guidance regarding how employers receive credit here: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-and-labor-announce-plan-to-implement-coronavirus-related-paid-leave-for-workers-and-tax-credits-for-small-and-midsize-businesses-to-swiftly-recover-the-cost-of-providing-coronavirus The pertinent section telling employers how to receive the credit and how much of a credit is here:...
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As we discussed in great detail last week on our Blog and Legal Updates, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) requires that certain employers provide paid leave for temporary additional reasons and paid sick leave for specified reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The full summary can be found here. The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has now confirmed that FFCRA is to take...
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Updated 3/25/20 The Coronavirus outbreak has been declared a world-wide pandemic, requiring all citizens, including employers, to take certain measures to protect themselves and others. In response to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel Coronavirus, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which was signed into law on March 18, 2020. This law contains several provisions to increase funding for benefit programs,...
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The Coronavirus has been declared a world-wide pandemic, requiring all citizens, including employers, to take certain measures to protect themselves and others. Employers are strongly encouraged to keep updated on the latest guidance and instructions from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the federal, state and local authorities. In addition, the following will address frequently asked questions by employers on...
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On September 25, 2019, the Labor and Employment Section of ScottHulse presented a half-day seminar to the El Paso Society of Human Resources Management (EPSHRM). Topics covered included Harassment in the Workplace, When does HR cross into the Practice of Law, ADA Issues in the Workplace, and Immigration and Reform. ScottHulse attorneys who presented at this seminar were Rosemary Marin, Stephen Venzor, Blake Downey, Adrian...
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