United States: New Massachusetts Law Requires Employers to Provide Domestic Violence Leave

Governor Deval Patrick recently signed into law An Act Relative to Domestic Violence (ARDV), a statute that requires covered employers to provide employees with up to 15 days of unpaid leave in the event that the employee or a close family member is a victim of domestic violent or certain other abusive behavior. This new law is effective immediately and applies to all Massachusetts employers with 50 or more employees. Notably, in addition to […]

By | October 22nd, 2014 ||

United States: Employee Or Employer? Terminated Doctor Loses Appeal In Discrimination Case Because Of Employer Status

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed a lower court’s conclusion that a doctor in a service corporation was actually an employer, and thus could not bring a claim under federal discrimination statutes based upon her termination. Bluestein v. Cent. Wisconsin Anesthesiology, S.C., 13-3724, 2014 WL 5176397 (7th Cir. Oct. 15, 2014). The case highlights the complex test that courts apply in determining whether a member of a professional business entity is eligible […]

By | October 22nd, 2014 ||

United States: Louisiana Employers Are Restricted In Their Ability To Consider Certain Criminal Records For Employment Purposes

Effective August 1, 2014, Louisiana became another state to regulate employer use of criminal record information for employment purposes.

Under the new law, expunged records of arrests of convictions are now considered confidential and no longer part of the public record. Those records also cannot be made available to any person or entity except:

To members of law enforcement or criminal justice agencies or prosecutors investigating, prosecuting or enforcing criminal law or for other statutory purposes;
Upon […]

By | October 22nd, 2014 ||