Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) is effective today, November 21, 2009. Title II of GINA prohibits an employer’s use of genetic information in making decisions related to any terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. GINA also prohibits employers from intentionally acquiring genetic information, requires confidentiality with respect to genetic information (with limited exceptions), and […]
Yesterday, USDOL Secretary Hilda Solis announced that USDOL has hired 250 new Wage and Hour investigators. The hiring will result in a 33% increase in investigative staff which, no doubt, will herald more investigations. As the Secretary’s press release stated, “America’s workers should rest assured that protecting worker rights is a top priority at the […]
November 23, 2009, is the last day that the EEOC will receive any further written comments upon its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for new regulations to implement the the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAA) which took effect on January 1st of this year. The NPRM proposes a significant adjustment in how the EEOC will […]
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced plans to hold a one day symposium entitled “Government and Employers 2009: Working Together to Ensure a Legal Workforce.” According to DHS, the talk is intended to cover employment eligibility compliance, the E-Verify federal contractor rule, the future course of worksite enforcement and other topics. Aside from […]
As chairman of the subcommittee on Children and Families, Christopher Dodd (D:CT) is expected today to unveil the Senate’s version of a bill that would provide up to seven (7) days of paid sick leave for workers and perhaps worker’s family members who are ill, including individuals who have contracted H1N1 swine flu. Given that the Department of […]
As Florida and other states sought to rebuild after the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes, building materials were at a premium. Unfortunately, homeowners are now finding that certain drywall imported from China and used in building or repairing homes is toxic and is believed to be causing a variety of problem ranging from corrosion of pipes […]
With the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) became the Chairman of the influential Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on September 10, 2009. Although the HELP committee has spent much time on the topic of health care reform, Washington insiders expect that the HELP committee will soon turn its attention to […]
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation had its first rate increase in several years approved by Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty on October 29, 2009. The Order approves rates for the Personal Lines Account and the Mobile Homeowners Physical Damage Accounts and Commercial Lines Accounts. The order approving the filing does not address the High Risk Accounts (coastal territories […]
There is little doubt that Congress and the White House are moving rapidly to pass laws affecting the workplace. In fact, the first piece of legislation signed by President Obama was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which expanded the limitations period applicable to some claims of unfair compensation under the Equal Pay Act. This […]
The Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology continued its discussion of Florida’s mitigation discount program on October 29, 2009. The commission received testimony from several interested parties. Among these presentations, I gave the commission information about the effects of the current discount program on premium levels and insurers’ underwriting decisions. My comments highlighted several […]
