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CAN I BE SUED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID 19) – AND AM I COVERED?
Thursday, 26 March 2020
By Clifton M. Mount, Esquire, Senior Attorney, Litigation Practice, Group General Counsel, P.C. (Main: 703 556-0411) The COVID-19 “coronavirus” situation is complex and unprecedented in its impact on all phases of life and government. Most states have issued a recent rash of executive orders, regulations, health standards and the like in the emergency response to
- Published in Business, Employment, Litigation, Management Advisory
Client Alert for Virginia Employers: Virginia Bans Discrimination on the Basis of Hairstyles
Thursday, 12 March 2020
On March 3, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed HB 1514 into law, which amends the Virginia Human Rights Act. The Virginia Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination “on the basis of race.” HB 1514 adds to that and explains that “on the basis of race” includes “on the basis of traits historically associated with race, including
- Published in Business, Employment, Labor & Employment, News
Client Alert for Maryland Employers: “Ban the Box” Veto Overridden
Thursday, 27 February 2020
Maryland On January 30, 2020, the Maryland General Assembly voted to override Governor Larry Hogan’s veto of the “Act Concerning Record Screening Practices (Ban the Box).” Under the Act, employers with 15 or more full-time employees are prohibited from requiring an applicant “to disclose whether the applicant has a criminal record or has had criminal
- Published in Business, Employment, Labor & Employment, News
Fairfax Circuit Court Finds For Employees, Holding Non-Compete Overly Broad And Unenforceable
Monday, 24 February 2020
In a recent case, the Fairfax Circuit Court in Virginia found in favor of the defendant employees, holding that a previous employer’s non-competition and non-solicitation provisions were unenforceable. There, the non-compete and non-solicitation clauses were not limited in scope, but instead prohibited conduct “wholly unrelated” to the employer’s legitimate business needs. Since the court found
- Published in Business, Employment, Labor & Employment, Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation
Client Alert for D.C. Employers: Updates to Universal Paid Leave Act (UPLA)
Monday, 24 February 2020
District of Columbia Under the District of Columbia’s Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016 (UPLA) some changes to employee’s paid leave benefits are going to take effect in July 2020. Under UPLA, covered employees will receive paid time off for: (1) parental leave to bond with a new child (up to 8 weeks in
- Published in Business, Employment, Labor & Employment, News
Employee Must Meet Employer’s Legitimate Expectations to Establish Case of Employment Discrimination
Wednesday, 12 February 2020
In two recent cases, the Eastern District of Virginia found that the plaintiffs weren’t able to establish claims of discrimination, because they weren’t able to establish that they met employers’ legitimate expectations at the time of the adverse employment action. These cases can offer helpful guidance for employers. Employment Discrimination—Disparate Treatment Title VII of the
- Published in Business, Employment, Labor & Employment
Western District of Virginia Finds Employee Diagnosed With Cancer “Disabled” Under the ADA
Monday, 10 February 2020
In a recent case, the court found an employee diagnosed with Stage IV inoperable Adenocarcinoma pancreatic cancer had a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). The court further held that the employee was entitled to reasonable accommodations in the form of a modified work schedule to obtain chemotherapy treatment. The court concluded that
- Published in Business, Employment, News
Harsher Penalties Recommended for Employers Who Misclassify Employees as Independent Contractors
Wednesday, 05 February 2020
The distinction between a 1099 independent contractor and a W-2 employee is an important one, as this classification affects federal income tax, social security and Medicare taxes, as well as impacts eligibility for Medicare benefits. It is critical that business owners correctly determine whether individuals are employees or independent contractors. If a business misclassifies an
- Published in Business, Employment, News
General Counsel, P.C. Welcomes Lewis P. Rhodes to Our Firm
Tuesday, 04 February 2020
Dear General Counsel, P.C. Clients and Friends: General Counsel, P.C. is pleased to announce that Lewis P. Rhodes has joined the firm. Lewis brings a combination of over 15 years of government contracts and legal experience and 26 years of management and leadership experience that will be invaluable to General Counsel, P.C. clients. Lewis is
New DOL Overtime Rules Effective January 1, 2020
Saturday, 01 February 2020
The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a change to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that will make over a million more American workers now eligible for overtime pay. Business owners should be aware of this new rule, which goes into effect on January 1, 2020. The new rule changes the earnings threshold necessary