On June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, holding that Harvard College and the University of North Carolina (UNC)’s admissions programs violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. While the decision does not directly impact private employers’ diversity, equity
On Oct. 11, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed rule that would change the definition of “independent contractor” for companies, a modification that could impact worker classification across various industries. Essentially, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) repeals the Trump administration’s independent contractor rule and reinstates the principal factors used in
On Oct. 25, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued guidance and updated the same on Oct. 28, to assist employers who receive requests for religious accommodations from job applicants and employees regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine mandates. This GT Alert provides considerations for employers when evaluating such a request for a religious
On Sept. 9, 2021, President Biden issued his Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors (EO), mandating vaccines for all federal employees and covered federal contractor employees. Although the respective agencies are expected to promulgate guidance and rules effectuating the EO, which will become effective Oct. 15, 2021, the Safety Federal
On Sept. 9, 2021, President Biden issued two executive orders (EOs) with a six-prong strategy to combat the COVID-19 variants, aimed to “save […] lives […] while also keeping schools open and safe, and protecting our economy from lockdowns and damage.” The EOs prescribe mandates and recommendations for federal workers and contractors doing business with
On June 12, 2021, a Texas federal judge issued one of the first rulings on a challenge to a mandatory vaccination policy. U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes of the Southern District of Texas dismissed a lawsuit brought by 116 employees of Houston Methodist Hospital who refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 following a mandate by
On April 27, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order, effective Jan. 30, 2022, requiring certain federal contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage to workers who work on federal contracts and to adjust the wage annually according to the consumer price index to reflect changes in the cost of living. The current minimum
In recent weeks, a number of federal legislative measures have been introduced that, if passed, will have significant impacts on federal labor and employment policies. This GT Alert reviews the Paycheck Fairness Act, PRO Act, and FAMILY Act.
In his first three days in office, President Biden moved quickly to issue a number of executive orders (EO) impacting labor and employment policies. This GT Alert provides some of the key takeaways for employers and government contractors.