Vorys at Work

Join us on November 7 for the annual Akron Labor and Employment Seminar. This year, we are hosting the seminar in the afternoon. Lunch will be provided and following the seminar, there will be a reception to celebrate the seminar's 20th anniversary. To learn more or register, click here: https://ow.ly/WSeU50TMNGE

In 2004, California became the first state to enact a Paid Family Leave (PFL) program. This program was designed to extend disability compensation to individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, domestic partner, or to bond with a new minor child. Since then, California has made several changes to its PFL program, including expanding the program to cover individuals taking time off work to assist a military family member under covered active duty or call to covered active duty. Read our Client Alert here: https://lnkd.in/gJKvMrGr

The Massachusetts legislature recently took its first significant step to expand pay-related protections for job applicants since the state’s 2016 Pay Equity Law. Beginning July 31, 2025, most employers will now be required to disclose pay ranges in their job postings and report demographic and pay data to the state. Read more in our Client Alert here: https://lnkd.in/eCPCnm5w

The Department of State (DOS) has announced that their new online passport renewal system is fully available to the public starting today, September 18, 2024. The new system allows eligible U.S. citizens to renew their passports through a secure online process, eliminating the need to print and mail paper applications. Read our Client Alert here: https://lnkd.in/eirxppFk

On April 22, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Final Rule titled HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy (Final Rule). The 2024 Final Rule narrows the general HIPAA disclosure rule that allows covered entities (providers, health plans, or health care clearinghouses) to disclose protected health information (PHI) in specified instances. This Final Rule was enacted by HHS to protect access to and privacy of reproductive health care after the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that has led to some state abortion bans and other restrictions. Read more here: https://ow.ly/KYxr50Tm2Nv

The New York Retail Worker Safety Act was signed into law on September 4, 2024, by Governor Kathy Hochul. The Act aims to enhance the safety of retail workers in the state and is set to go into effect on March 4, 2025. The Act mandates that retail employers with ten or more employees conduct assessments of potential workplace violence hazards, adopt written workplace violence prevention policies, and provide workplace violence prevention training. Retailers are required to train their employees on conflict de-escalation and response to workplace violence. This means retailers are expected to conduct a thorough evaluation of the workplace environment and develop effective strategies to mitigate potential threats. Read more in our Client Alert here: https://ow.ly/bumz50Tl2bq

On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas struck down the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) non-compete ban, permanently and nationally. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eyx8JC5y

We are pleased to congratulate the 41 attorneys that were named to the 2025 Best Lawyers in America® lists in labor and employment-related categories. View the full list here: https://lnkd.in/exd5Y6HX

Join us for our annual Benefits Conferences on September 10 in Cincinnati and September 25 in Columbus. These half-day events offer an opportunity to connect with industry professionals, stay informed with the latest updates and gain valuable insights from the Vorys benefits team on a wide range of benefits-related topics. Discover more about the conferences and register here: https://ow.ly/va4x50STU61

The closely watched legal battle over the Michigan Wage Act and the Earned Sick Time Act concluded on July 31, 2024, leaving employers in a tough spot. In a 4-3 decision in Mothering Justice v. Attorney General, the Michigan Supreme Court held that the legislature unconstitutionally violated the people’s initiative rights by amending the Wage Act and the Earned Sick Time Act prior to enacting them. The decision punctuates a five-year dispute over these initiatives and revives significant changes to employers’ wage and hour obligations under Michigan law. Read more in our Client Alert here: https://ow.ly/wT8H50SSlSM