Agencies Issue Final Rules Governing Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act

The Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services have released final rules implementing the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), which requires parity between mental health or substance use disorder benefits and medical/surgical benefits with respect to financial requirements and treatment limitations under group health plans and group and individual health insurance coverage. Read the full post here. (November 8, 2013)

EEOC to Hold Public Meeting on National Origin Discrimination

On Wednesday, November 13 at 9:30 a.m. ET, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold a public meeting on national origin discrimination in today’s workplace. Topics of discussion include various recruitment and hiring issues; discriminatory treatment in assignments; pay discrimination; language and accent issues; effective communication and access issues; harassment; and retaliation. Read the full post here. (November 7, 2013)

OSHA Proposes Injury and Illness Logs be Filed Electronically

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a proposed rule that would require employers to submit their injury and illness survey data electronically.  The proposal would not change the employer’s obligation to complete or retain the injury and illness recordkeeping information, but rather would modify the method of delivery to OSHA or OSHA’s designee.  The agency explains that: “the purpose of this rulemaking is to improve workplace safety and health through the collection of useful, accessible, establishment-specific injury and illness data to which OSHA currently does not have direct, timely, and systematic access.” Read the full post here. (November 7, 2013)

Senate Passes ENDA with Amendment

The Senate for the first time approved the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S. 815), a bill that would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis one’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.  The final vote was 64-32, with all Democrats present and 10 Republicans voting in ENDA’s favor. Read the full post here. (November 7, 2013)

Senate Advances Employment Non-Discrimination Act

The Senate voted 61-30 to allow a final vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) (S. 815) without the threat of a filibuster.  All Democrats and seven Republicans voted in favor of proceeding. Introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and co-sponsored by 55 others, ENDA would prohibit certain entities, including employers with 15 or more employees, from discriminating against individuals on the bases of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. Read the full post here. (November 4, 2013)

Immigration Update for the Week of November 4, 2013

Survey Finds that Many Companies Fall Short in their Anti-Corruption Compliance Programs

The findings from a 2013 survey of “International Business Attitudes to Corruption” conducted by Control Risks and the Economist Intelligence Unit, two independent international business risks and opportunities consultancy firms, suggest that many companies are unprepared to handle a corruption scandal and have yet to implement best practices for anti-corruption compliance.  The study surveyed general counsels, senior corporate lawyers and compliance heads in more than 300 companies worldwide. Read the full post here. (November 7, 2013)