Reversing itself, the Second Circuit held on Monday, February 26, that sexual orientation discrimination is discrimination “because of . . . sex” under Title VII in Zarda v. Altitude Express. The Second Circuit’s decision aligns it with the Seventh Circuit and places it squarely at odds with the Eleventh…

Q.  What can my company do to reduce the threat that one of our employees may cause a cyberattack?

A.  In September 2017, Equifax announced that hackers had gained access to the confidential information of more than 145 million consumers, almost half of the U.S. population.  Recent cases suggest that employers could be subject to liability when one of their employees causes a data breach by either knowingly or negligently revealing sensitive employee or customer data. In March 2016, for example, Snapchat announced that someone posing as the company’s chief executive officer obtained employee payroll data about 700 employees. More than seven other companies were tricked by similar phishing attacks that same year.

Q: I am a New York City employer.  What do I need to know about the amendments to the law regarding accommodations?

A: Effective October 15, 2018, employers in New York City will be required to engage in a “cooperative dialogue” with a person who has requested accommodation or who the employer has notice may require an accommodation.  This new requirement stems from an amendment to the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”).

Last year, we heard the federal government announce that it would increase the number of raids and site inspections to ensure businesses were going through the proper procedures to hire employment-authorized workers.  Well, we are beginning to see the government live up to its word.

On January 10, Immigration Customs…

Q.  Has the #MeToo Movement led to any changes on how companies settle harassment complaints?

A.  While there are numerous legislative initiatives on the horizon intended to change how employers handle harassment complaints in light of the #MeToo Movement, the most significant federal change is a little known revision to the Tax Code recently enacted.

Q.  Have there been any recent changes to the overtime pay rules that we have to be concerned about?

A.  Currently, under both federal and Pennsylvania law, to be exempt from overtime under the “white collar exemptions,” an employee must meet both the salary basis test and the duties test, meaning they must make more than a certain amount weekly and perform certain identified duties. The salary threshold has been stagnant for decades. In 2016, however, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced new regulations that would increase the salary threshold from $23,660 annually ($455 per week) to $47,476 (or $913 per week).  The regulations however, fell short of becoming law when a federal court in Texas enjoined the DOL from implementing it, only weeks before it was set to go into effect.  Today, the federal law remains in limbo, with speculation that new regulations will be issued raising the salary test to less than the previously anticipated increase, although the exact amount remains unclear.

Q: Can my company fire an employee once the person has exhausted his or her FMLA leave entitlement?

A: Many employers are surprised to learn that they may not necessarily terminate an employee if he or she does not return to work at the end of FMLA leave.  Under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), an employee is eligible for up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave.  Upon returning from FMLA leave, except in a few limited situations, an employee is guaranteed the right to return to the same position or to an equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay, and other terms and conditions of employment that the employee held before the leave commenced.  Under FMLA regulations, however, an employee does not have a right to return to work if he or she is unable to perform the essential duties of the position.

But what if the employee asks for more time off after the FMLA leave period has expired?

Q: One of our employees has been exhibiting strange, erratic behavior at work. Can we require the employee to submit to a mental health examination?

A: Possibly. The ADA prohibits employers from requiring their workers to undergo medical exams unless the exam is “shown to be job-related and consistent with business necessity.”  However, an employer may require an employee to undergo a mental health examination if the employee’s behavior raises questions about the employee’s ability to perform essential job-related functions or raises a safety concern.

Part I of this post offered predictions related to DOL Opinion Letters and a likely rule increasing the minimum exempt salary level under the FLSA.  This Part II offers three more predictions involving legal issues quite different from wage and hour concerns.

Prediction 3: Continuing and Increasing Focus on Harassment…