Author: Jennifer Service

Book pages fanned out

What’s New In The Evolving Area Of Pay Equity Requirements?

As we discussed in a prior post, pay equity is a rapidly evolving area of significant import to employers.  Women, people of color, and individuals with disabilities continue to earn significantly less than non-Hispanic white men for the same work.  The disparity is even more dramatic for individuals at the intersections of those underpaid groups.  Anti-discrimination laws exist but, for...

Minnesota Has Gone “All In” on Marijuana Legalization — What Does This Mean for Employers?

Minnesota Has Gone “All In” on Marijuana Legalization — What Does This Mean for Employers?

Around this time last year, Minnesota legalized edible products containing hemp-derived tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Now, Minnesota has gone “all in”—becoming the 23rd state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana and cannabis products. While personal use is not legal until August 1, 2023, several employment provisions in the bill take effect on July 1, 2023. The legalization of recreational marijuana involves...

Can employers require employees to accept confidentiality and non-disparagement obligations in exchange for severance pay?

Can employers require employees to accept confidentiality and non-disparagement obligations in exchange for severance pay?

Employee reductions and terminations are an unfortunate result of economic downturns. Even during good economic times, many companies face the need to reduce their workforce or terminate the employment of individual employees. In such circumstances, employers may seek to offer severance pay in exchange for certain releases and promises by the departing employee requiring a severance agreement. The drafting of...

Workers’ Compensation Coverage for Remote Employees’ Injuries:  What Happens When Every Day Is Bring Your Child (and Pets, and Neighbors) to Work Day?

Workers’ Compensation Coverage for Remote Employees’ Injuries: What Happens When Every Day Is Bring Your Child (and Pets, and Neighbors) to Work Day?

Workers’ compensation laws have been in effect in the United States for over a century providing benefits to employees injured on the job.  For many years, “on the job” meant injuries that occurred at an office, factory, store, or other site used exclusively for work-related purposes and over which the employer had a significant degree of control.  After COVID-19, with...