An out-of-date employee handbook that fails to recognize ever-evolving laws and regulations is more harmful than helpful to an employer. It is important to ensure that your company’s handbook stays current and ‘with the times.’ The following are six employment law topics that should be taken into consideration ...
Written by Kate Van Namen, with contribution from Ryan Chambers
If a software company makes a free tool available online, can competing developers use it without the company’s permission? According to a California jury, the answer is yes, so long as the developers’ actions constitute fair use under The Copyright Act.
The Copyright Act, 17 ...
The Federal Circuit recently made an important ruling concerning the proper venue for patent infringement suits. The decision by the Federal Circuit did not change the current interpretation of the venue statutes and companies will continue to be brought into court in such locations as the Eastern District of Texas ...
On May 23, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the limitations period for a constructive discharge claim under Title VII runs from the date the employee gives notice of his resignation, as opposed to the employer’s alleged discriminatory behavior, in Green v. Brennan, Postmaster General, No. 14-613, 2016 WL ...
On the same day that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced its Final Rule revising the salary requirements for the “white collar” exemptions from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime requirements,1 it released supplemental guidance for non-profits, state and local governments
Steve Hall and Matt Williams, members of Wyatt's Intellectual Property Protection & Litigation Service Team, were quoted in Louisville Business First. The article, "Intellectual Property Law Has a Real-World Impact on Businesses," describes changes in Intellectual Property Law and their effect on companies and individuals alike.
Please ...
Speculation about when the DOL would release the final rule raising the minimum salary for exempt workers has ended. Today, the DOL released the final rule that will be effective December 1, 2016. The final rule is available here.
The proposed rule was quite controversial, eliciting over 270,000 comments, mostly from employers ...
On May 9, 2016, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a new resource document addressing the rights of employees with disabilities who seek leave as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. According to the EEOC, the document does not create a new agency policy, but is a ...
On May 12, the EPA finalized a set of regulations that will reduce methane, volatile organic compounds, and toxic air emissions in the oil and gas industry. The final rule will target emissions from new or modified oil and gas wells. According to the Agency, the rule will prevent 11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent ...
On Friday, May 13th, 2016, the Obama administration issued guidance directing all public schools in the country to allow transgender students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. This guidance was issued amidst a court fight between North Carolina and the federal government over North ...