In Germany, employees frequently refuse to sign separation agreements for fear that the Employment Agency will disqualify them from receiving unemployment benefits. A revision of the Employment Agency's internal directives has created some new leeway.
On April 25, 2017, OSHA reversed its position that during inspections of non-union workplaces, employees could be represented by anyone selected by the employees, including non-representative outside union agents.
The high court ruled ruled that a Native American tribe’s sovereign immunity from lawsuits does not extend to a tribal employee sued over actions he took within the scope of his employment.
Massachusetts recently issued amended regulations governing use of the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services' (DCJIS) database of information. These changes will impact employers that obtain criminal records provided by the DCJIS.
A Massachusetts Superior Court judge recently held that retail employers who fail to pay workers time and a half for holiday work may be sued under the state Payment of Wages Law.
New Mexico recently became the 48th state to enact a data breach notification law, while Virginia took the lead in expanding its law to address the recent explosion of W-2 phishing scams, and Tennessee once again amended its breach notification statute.
In late 2016, after more than a year of debate, the District of Columbia Council voted to create one of the most generous paid leave laws in the country. After making it through the congressional review period, the law became effective on April 7, 2017.
On April 18, 2017, President Trump signed the "Buy American and Hire American" executive order (EO), which addresses H-1B visas. The EO calls for the application of existing U.S. laws to visa recipients and the re-evaluation of the H-1B program.
