In Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton, 581 US __, 2017 WL 2407476 (2017), the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed long standing precedent that non-profit, church-affiliated hospitals are exempt from ERISA requirements. Employee pension plans are generally subject to the requirements of ERISA. However, “church plans” are excluded from ERISA coverage. 29 U.S.C. § 1003(2). A […]
Category: Featured Stories
AFL-CIO Opposes the Nominations of Marvin Kaplan and William Emanuel to the NLRB
Link to PDF: AFL-CIO Opposes Nominations
WELA Press Release: New Pregnant Workers Law
On May 17, 2017 Governor Inslee signed the pregnant workers accommodations act that Washington Employment Lawyers Association (WELA) worked so hard to get passed. WELA member Katherine Chamberlain prepared this press release from WELA and sent it out Wednesday: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 New Law Requires Washington Employers to Help Pregnant Workers Remain Part of […]
NLRB Determinations Regarding NLRA Coverage of Housekeeping versus Theology Faculty at Religious Universities
In Saint Xavier University, 365 NLRB No. 54 (April 6, 2017), the National Labor Relations Board found that housekeepers of a self-identified religious educational institution are within the Board’s jurisdiction. The Board applied Hanna Boys Center, 284 NLRB 1080 (1987), finding that non-teaching employees of religious institutions or nonprofit religious organizations will be covered unless […]
Ninth Circuit Rules in Favor of Employees in Two Sexual Harassment Cases
On March 24, 2017, the Ninth Circuit determined in Anderson v. CRST International, Inc., et al, No. 15-55556 that a jury could find that an employer’s remedy in response to a female truck driver’s sexual harassment complaint was not enough even though the employer separated her from the offending co-worker. The Ninth Circuit explained: “[] […]
Labor & Employment Law Developments Under the Trump Administration
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): On January 25, 2017, Philip A. Miscimarra (R) appointed as acting chair to the NLRB. People’s World website reports that prior to 2013, Miscimarra worked for several law firms with a reputation for union-busting and as an NLRB Board member, he “consistently dissented from rulings favoring working people that have […]
SCOTUS to Decide Whether Title IX Compliance Requires Treating Transgender Students Consistent with Gender Identity
SCOTUS will hear oral arguments in Gloucester County School Board v. G.G. on March 28, 2017. The Department of Education issued a letter providing guidance that Title IX compliance requires schools to generally treat transgender students consistent with their gender identity … or schools could lose federal funding. The Gloucester County school board appealed of […]
Texas Court Prohibits Implementation of ACA Protections for the Transgender Community and Women Seeking Abortions
On December 31, 2016, Judge Reed O’Connor of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas entered an injunction to apply nationwide in Franciscan Alliance v. Burwell, Case No. No. 7:16-cv-00108-O. The order prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from enforcing the portions of the nondiscrimination rule under ACA […]
EEOC Issues Publication on the Rights of Job Applicants and Employees with Mental Health Conditions
In December 2016, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a resource document that explains workplace rights for individuals with mental health conditions under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Depression, PTSD, & Other Mental Health Conditions in the Workplace: Your Legal Rights explains that job applicants and employees with mental health […]
Oregon Could Become First Fair Scheduling State
Oregon is teed up to consider statewide legislation that would require employers to end the abusive practice of unpaid on-call hours and “random scheduling” and require compensation for shifts canceled at the last minute. The bill for Fair Scheduling, proposed by Sen. Michael Dembrow in late September 2016, is supported by Commissioner Steve Novick and […]