LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW COUNSEL FOR DC AREA BUSINESSES AND BEYOND
At General Counsel, P.C., our attorneys have extensive experience in representing a wide range of local, regional and national companies. We are particularly sensitive to the needs of government contractors and emerging growth businesses. We strive to be your company’s best asset by assisting your company in instituting preventative policies and procedures from Day One of your company. Our knowledgeable lawyers provide comprehensive legal advice through all aspects of labor and employment law as it relates to your company.

Virginia Enacts Ban the Box legislation for Marijuana Possession

Virginia Marijuana Possession Legislation
On May 21, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana under Virginia law. Under the new legislation, it is still unlawful to possess marijuana, with medical exceptions, but possession will now result in a civil penalty of no more than $25. Simple possession of marijuana will no longer lead to
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Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) – Employer Notice 3/27/2020

Families First Coronavirus Response Act FFRCA
The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor (DOL) has released the required notification poster for the recently-enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).  As described here, the FFCRA required covered employers – which is all employers with 1 to 499 employees, to provide two different forms of paid leave to employees who
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Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act

USDOL Family & Medial Leave Act Extension
Changes to federal law in light of the COVID-19 situation have created new obligations for many employers.  This alert summarizes the new obligations for employers.  The obligations, however, will be different for each employer and even each employee, so it is important to get more specific guidance about what your business may be required to
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Coronavirus-Related Employment Guidance

Employment impact of Coronavirus
The COVID-19 situation in the United States is complex and rapidly changing, which means that guidance to employers also changes rapidly.  This alert provides broad-based advice to employers.  If you have specific questions based on your business or your employees, please reach out for more specific guidance. Federal law requires employers to provide a “safe workplace” for employees but
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Client Alert for Virginia Employers: Virginia Bans Discrimination on the Basis of Hairstyles

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
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Client Alert for Maryland Employers: “Ban the Box” Veto Overridden

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
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Fairfax Circuit Court Finds For Employees, Holding Non-Compete Overly Broad And Unenforceable

Employer lost non-compete case
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
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Client Alert for D.C. Employers: Updates to Universal Paid Leave Act (UPLA)

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
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Employee Must Meet Employer’s Legitimate Expectations to Establish Case of Employment Discrimination

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
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Eastern District of Virginia Finds in Favor of Employer When Employee Claimed Racial Discrimination and Then Voluntary Resigned

  In a recent case, the Court found there wasn’t sufficient evidence of employment discrimination or hostile work environment, where the employee’s claims were based on a single incident of conduct by a co-worker and the employer took swift corrective action. The Court also offered additional guidance on when a voluntary resignation may be considered
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