Fisher Phillips in the News

In a Local 5 News interview about investigative leave, partner Clarence Belnavis discussed lengthy periods of employee leave in the public versus private sectors.

CBT Automotive Network turned to Steve Cupp to walk employers through some of their most pressing COVID-19 related questions regarding the safety and structure of their workforce as well as what they need to know about forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program.

Kathleen Caminiti, co-chair of Fisher Phillips’ Wage and Hour practice, was recently featured in HR Dive’s Mailbag series that answers HR professionals’ questions about all things work. Readers asked: Can we temporarily cut workers' pay to deal with the economic downturn? The answer: Yes, “you can cut pay, but you have to be careful.”

Caroline Brown recently spoke with HR Dive and SHRM on the DOL’s final rule that updates the FLSA regulations guiding how employers calculate overtime pay for workers with fluctuating workweeks. The rule gives employers greater flexibility to use the fluctuating workweek method of calculating overtime.  

A recent count by The State University of New York’s Student Conduct Institute shows that more than 100 lawsuits have been filed against colleges for the return of tuition and other fees because of COVID-19. In an interview with Education Dive, Michael Holt explains the threshold for whether these cases can get class action status.

In a recent segment on the Atlanta Small Business Network, Marty Heller interviewed with host Jim Fitzpatrick on what employers across Georgia need to know before bringing their employees back to work.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule to simplify an overtime exemption for commission-based workers in retail and service industries. SHRM turned to Marty Heller for insight into what the rule means for employers in these industries.

Stephen Mitchell recently spoke with SC Biz News on the workplace issues employers face as the start to bring employees back to work. Of utmost importance, he says, employers must be in constant communication with their workforce.

In an interview with SHRM, Michelle Anderson explains that keeping an eye on off-duty employees to ensure they are social distancing may not be practical and may even impose an undue hardship on the employer.

Steve Bernstein recently spoke with Bloomberg Law for insight on whether employers can legally require workers to wear face coverings in the workplace, even if their workforce is represented by a union. The article explores the legal issues at play when workers refuse to wear face coverings during the pandemic, including whether they can face discipline or termination.

In an interview with CNBC, Samantha Monsees explained that Treasury and the SBA are giving some businesses a little more flexibility when it comes to the PPP with an “alternative payroll covered period.”

Aaron Olsen, of counsel in Fisher Phillips’ San Diego office, was recently appointed a commissioner on the San Diego Civil Service Commission. He was appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council to serve in this capacity.

Josh Nadreau recently spoke with the Boston Business Journal about complications and legal issues surrounding testing employee temperatures.

Josh Nadreau recently spoke with the Boston Business Journal about complications and legal issues surrounding testing employee temperatures.

In a feature interview for the WealthAbility podcast, partner Bob Robenalt provides tips for employers on the process of reopening their businesses in the wake of COVID-19.

Greg Grisham has been reappointed to Tennessee’s State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

Eater, a leading online news source for insight on the nation’s restaurant industry, featured Fisher Phillips’ State-by-State Restaurant Guide to Reopening in its roundup of country’s best restaurant safety guides. The firm’s guide is listed among prominent industry groups, including the James Beard Foundation, the National Restaurant Association and the Aspen Institute.

Melissa Camire recently spoke with Business Insurance about the potential litigation claims that could arise with bringing employees back to the workplace. With various workplace issues at play, including charges of violation of federal laws like the ADA and ADEA, and wage and hour and workplace safety concerns, employers need to tread carefully to minimize risk.

As part of a four-phase plan to gradually restart the California economy, Gov. Gavin Newsom is allowing some employers to reopen their workplaces—as long as they meet strict guidelines. In an interview with SHRM, Lonnie Giamela says employers should review state and local orders, along with guidance from the CDC, to develop a safety plan tailored to their workplace.

In his article for the North Bay Business Journal, California partner Collin Cook explores various ways employers can ensure productive remote work time for their employees and the organization, identifies strategies to prevent and overcome workers feeling disconnected, and discusses best practices for avoiding wage and hour issues that can emerge when employees are working from home.

Employers are keeping an eye on their workers at home through use of remote monitoring technologies. But these tools aren't without legal risks. In an interview with SHRM, Usama Kahf says organizations need to consider that remote employees may be using personal devices for work tasks when they install monitoring technology.

Matthew Simpson, co-chair of Fisher Phillips’ Automotive Dealers Industry Group, recently spoke with Automotive News on how dealerships should manage their workforce amid the current COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview with HR Dive, Shayna Balch discusses remote employee misconduct and how employers can prevent and deal with these situations from a distance.

In SHRM’s coverage of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), Tampa partner LaKisha Kinsey-Sallis provides insight into the EEOC’s opinion letter that says employers who properly apply for the credit won’t run afoul of federal anti-discrimination laws.

A case in California recently saw the certification of more than 4,000 women in an alleged class action for tying workers’ pay to their prior salaries.  The development is catching the attention of both defense and plaintiffs’ attorneys as it signals the common business practice could allow some discrimination class actions to survive. Megan Winter tells Bloomberg Law that while companies have largely changed the practice of using prior salary, employers could still be vulnerable to pay equity lawsuits for decisions made years, even decades ago.

Many small businesses must rely on payroll-protection loans to keep workers on board during the coronavirus pandemic—and they need to carefully plan and track their spending if they intend to apply for loan forgiveness. SHRM turned to Patrick Dennison for insight on what employers need to keep top of mind when participating in the loan program.

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended employment and many employment laws, including rules that govern predictive scheduling. In an interview with SHRM, Jeff Csercsevits explains that “Philadelphia announced that it will not be enforcing the predictability pay portion in light of the coronavirus.” 

In an interview with SHRM, Todd Logsdon discussed the hot topic of whether employers should require their employees to wear face masks in an effort to protect themselves and their colleagues from the spread of COVID-19.

In an interview with the Denver Business Journal, partner Todd Fredrickson is one of a select group of Colorado lawyers to comment on the legal issues facing companies that are conducting layoffs dues to the pandemic.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Cynthia Blevins Doll comments on the ligation that will likely stem from the novel coronavirus.

As employers reopen their worksites they are likely to get an influx of telecommuting requests from employees. In an interview with SHRM, partner Jeffrey Smith discussed the importance of employers having a remote-work policy in place to help them follow consistent criteria when deciding whether to grant the requests.

Letitia Silas, a partner in Fisher Phillips’ Labor Relations practice, recently spoke with reporters at Inside Higher Ed on how university management should work with faculty members who might be concerned about their health and safety if they are expected to teach in person next fall. She explains that institutions must make their decisions about the fall on a case-by-case basis, taking faculty concerns -- including those about accommodations for disabilities and equal employment law -- into account.

A new class lawsuit in New York alleges an employer excluded workers with certain types of criminal records from employment, which conflicts with the state and city’s human rights laws. Seth Kaufman recently spoke with Bloomberg Law, explaining that the allegations show the importance for New York employers to draft hiring policies that comply with state and city law.

In an interview with Law Week Colorado, Jocelyn Campanaro explained that the “coronavirus has just added to the intensity of what has for years been ‘a really tough time in immigration.’”

Fisher Phillips, a national labor and employment law firm representing employers, has earned notable recognition in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA. The firm was again ranked as one of the top Labor and Employment law firms in the country, earned rankings for Labor and Employment Law in 14 states, and 38 attorneys from across the country earned individual rankings as leading practitioners.

Jim McDonald, Managing Partner of Fisher Phillips’ Irvine office, recently added Amazon Best-Selling Author to his bio as his book “California Employment Law: An Employer's Guide,” became the #1 book under Labor Law on Amazon.com. Written especially for HR professionals and business people, “California Employment Law: An Employer’s Guide” is the essential resource for avoiding the many perils and pitfalls California employers face.

Businesses looking at smartphone-based tools to track their workers’ contact with people infected with coronavirus will have to walk a delicate tightrope between reopening safely and protecting employee privacy. In an interview with Bloomberg Law, Risa Boerner, Chair of Fisher Phillips’ Data Security and Workplace Privacy practice shares best practices for employers implementing this technology.

Hagood Tighe, co-chair of Fisher Phillips’ Wage and Hour practice, recently spoke with the Associated Press on what small and mid-size employers need to consider when bringing employees back to the workplace. While employee safety is a priority as businesses rehire laid-off employees and get back to work and many owners realize that supplying masks and gloves won’t be enough.

In an interview with Law360, partner Bob Yonowitz explained that it is not too late for companies to take safeguards and strengthen their legal footing to protect themselves and their prized trade secrets.

In an interview with New Orleans City Business, Ed Harold shares the most frequent questions that he has been fielding from clients over the past six weeks of the pandemic.

In an interview with Money.com, Bob Robenalt discusses unemployment considerations as employees decide whether to return to work amid remaining concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Employers are exploring the idea of using Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan money for employee bonuses, but in an interview with Louisville Business First, Todd Logsdon explains that this may not be the best idea.

For their three-part series that explores strategies and techniques restaurants should consider before and after they reopen amid COVID-19, Restaurant Dive spoke with Alden Parker for insight on steps employers should take before bringing back staff and practices they can use to keep customers safe.

Fisher Phillips, a national labor and employment law firm representing employers, is pleased to announce that it was the most active firm for trade secret litigation in 2019. The results were released in a data-driven report published by Lex Machina on April 21, 2020.

The Los Angeles Business Journal honored 68 women in its annual Top Women Attorneys listing, and among them is Sarina Saluja, a partner in Fisher Phillips’ Los Angeles office. The distinguished list highlights the best and brightest across Los Angeles for their exceptional legal skills and achievements across the spectrum of responsibility, including exemplary leadership, ethical standards, and contributions to the Los Angeles community at large.

Stephen Mitchell recently spoke with Columbia Regional Business Report on how keeping up with the legal issues – from unemployment questions to sick leave considerations – that the COVID-19 pandemic has created for businesses is presenting a near-daily challenge for law firms. “It’s all happening quickly,” he said. “Fortunately, Fisher Phillips has a dedicated COVID-19 task force that’s looking at the changing legislation and guidance as it comes out.”

In an interview with Inc., Travis Vance explains that employers must handle post-pandemic opening plans carefully to avoid legal claims related to COVID-19.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has officially sanctioned employer use of COVID-19 testing, but its updated guidance on the issue raises several unanswered questions. In an interview with Business Insurance, Hagood Tighe, Co-Chair of Fisher Phillips’ Wage and Hour practice, says the guidance leaves many, many unanswered questions, including, “how are we going to conduct the tests?”

In an interview with Kaiser Health News, Edwin Foulke draws from his experience running OSHA during part of President George W. Bush’s administration to comment on the agency’s present-day response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Travis Vance discusses some things employers should be thinking about as they envision their post-pandemic arrangements.

In an interview with The HR Digest, Howard Mavity provides guidance for employers trying to determine what is and what is not permissible in the workplace during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

The Fisher Phillips Post-Pandemic Strategy group, comprised of a cross-disciplinary team of workplace attorneys, has assembled a comprehensive set of FAQs to help employers navigate and plan for getting back to full strength.

In an interview with the Northern California Record, Travis Vance explains that the CDC guidance will be the best source of information for employers trying to determine if it is safe for employees to return to work.

In an interview with Law Week Colorado, Kristin White shares insight into OSHA's release of interim guidance relating to an employer's duty to determine whether a COVID-19 case is work-related.

Law360 spoke with attorneys across the U.S. who had recently made a career move amid the COVID-19. Among those attorneys was Letitia Silas, who joined Fisher Phillips’ Labor Relations and Healthcare Practices in March. She shared with Law360 that upon her arrival to the firm, and because of her experience managing the workforce at a large complex organization, she was immediately brought into the firm’s newly created COVID-19 Task Force to help clients navigate the pandemic.

In his original interview with Corporate Counsel, Howard Mavity discussed what companies were doing to prepare for workplace disruptions related to COVID-19, and now, weeks into the pandemic, he provides the publication with an update on the steps U.S. employers and in-house counsel have been taking to minimize the legal and/or financial risks to their businesses.

The Nashville Post announced that Fisher Phillips welcomed Ariel Kelly as an associate in Nashville.

Karl Lindegren, co-chair of Fisher Phillips’ California Litigation Practice Group, recently spoke with Law.com on what legal issues employers might expect post-pandemic, including an uptick in class action filings. Among the allegations employers could see are claims for denied wages, discrimination during layoffs or unsafe conditions. Karl explained, “You’ve got some very wealthy, well-established collective action lawyers who won’t be shy about taking this on.”

In an interview with EHS Today, workplace safety lawyers Travis Vance and Nicholas Hulse explain how the CDC’s updated return-to-work standards will impact employers now that workers who have survived COVID-19 are likely to start returning to the workplace.

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ (OFCCP) temporary waiver of affirmative action requirements for coronavirus-relief contracts brought questions from industry employers. In an interview with SHRM, Cheryl Behymer explained that this waiver allows companies that may have hesitated to subject themselves to the rigorous affirmative action compliance requirements imposed on federal contractors, encouragement to provide much-needed goods or services to fight coronavirus.

In an interview with EHS Today, Travis Vance shares his insights on what employers should be doing now, including encouraging them to document proactive measures to avoid risks and urging them to follow OSHA’s guidelines on COVID-19 occupational risks especially when building their response plans.

Charles Caulkins, a partner in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office, recently spoke with South Florida Business and Wealth about his goals for the Florida Chamber under his leadership as chairman. He explained that the state is in a unique position to work through the Chamber’s 39 specific types of goals that will help Florida remain successful for the future.

In an interview with Bloomberg Law, Todd Logsdon reminds employers that the notion of offering hazard pay should not precede the importance of employers maintaining a safe workplace.

Virginians are now protected from discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. In an interview with Bloomberg Law, David Klass explains that Virginia employers will need to prepare for an increased litigation risk, and not just because more categories of discrimination are covered under S.B. 868.

Partner Mathew Parker was recently interviewed by Columbus Business First about the impact of COVID-19 on Ohio breweries.

Employers across the country have grappled with employee privacy issues amid COVID-19. Many employers seek to ask questions about employee health as they navigate a new environment where a sick colleague isn’t just an inconvenience, but a potential threat to the company and the workforce. Jason Geller, Regional Managing Partner of Fisher Phillips’ San Francisco office, spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle about employer rights in these sticky situations.

In an interview with WDSU, partner Michelle Anderson discusses employee safety for companies that are being relied upon to provide essential goods and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview with Bloomberg Law, Benjamin Ross discusses how some companies instituted safety changes in response to COVID-19 and are now deciding to make those safety precautions permanent.

Employers are struggling to figure out how to protect their businesses from both the virus and the legal liabilities stemming from the pandemic. In an interview with Inc., partner Travis Vance discusses the unprecedented fallout from COVID-19 noting that he has already advised between 300 and 400 businesses on their coronavirus responses strategies.

Among the many challenges companies have to navigate during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, employers and employees are dealing with changing labor laws at the state and national level. Hotel News Now reached out to Andria Ryan, co-chair of Fisher Phillips’ Hospitality Industry Team, for insight into how hospitality employers are managing issues related to furloughs and layoffs,  sick and family leave, and communicating important information to large workforces.

In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, partner Kevin Troutman comments on the economic struggles facing small business amid the coronavirus crisis.

In a recent announcement issued by Law60, Curtis Moore was named as one of only ten members of the publication’s 2020 Construction Editorial Advisory Board.

In an interview with theTexas Tribune, Teresa Valderrama compared health care workers to those in combat who come “under fire because that’s the nature of their job.”

In an interview with Bloomberg Law, Rich Meneghello explains that including gig workers in relief efforts has the potential to benefit employers.

In an interview with HR Dive, Sam Monsees cautions that when it comes to asking about an employee’s personal travel, employers need to proceed with caution.

In an interview with Law360, Ed Harold, explains that there are some employers who just “can’t afford to take more loans” because it’s going to put them deeper in debt, but he also points out that the loans through the CARES Act “are attractive because they’re forgivable.”

Charles Caulkins, partner in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office and chairman of the Florida Chamber, was recently a guest on WLRN, South Florida's NPR station, for a segment workplace laws amid the COVID-19 crisis.

In an interview with SHRM, Samantha Monsees explained the eligibility requirements for Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act loans and described some of the details of the loan program.

The Memphis Business Journal selected Greg Grisham as a finalist in the “Labor & Employment” category of its 2020 “Best of the Bar"contest.

Congress mandated emergency sick leave for individuals who work for companies with fewer than 500 employees, and in Texas, the mandate means that millions of workers will have access to paid leave for the first time.

New worker scheduling requirements will hit Philadelphia restaurant, retail, and hotel employers at the same time they’re managing through shutdowns and widespread layoffs spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic. In an interview with Bloomberg Law, Jeff Csercsevits explained that no one anticipated this situation when the ordnance was drafted. He said, “There certainly a lot of questions about how businesses will comply under these unusual operating conditions.”

Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, some health employers have rolled out policies restricting public comments about equipment shortages and other unsafe conditions. However, a recent NLRB ruling puts such rules on shaky ground. Law360 spoke with Steve Bernstein about what the new ruling means for employers.

Bloomberg Law spoke with Hagood Tighe, co-chair of Fisher Phillips’ Wage and Hour practice, and David Kresser, co-chair of the firm’s Manufacturing Industry Team, on what employers need to know about navigating reductions in force.

In an interview with Business Insurance, partner Kristin White offered insights on the March 13, 2020 revised guidance issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Columbus Business First wrote an article in which Sam Lillard offered insights into how Ohio employers can use the COVID-19 pandemic to re-evaluate their businesses and concentrate on ways they can emerge stronger on the other side of the public health crisis.

In an interview with KMOV4, Samantha Monsees discusses the legal issues surrounding patient privacy and the public’s right-to-know as it relates to COVID-19.

Bert Brannen, Regional Managing Partner of Fisher Phillips’ Atlanta office, interviewed with ATL Small Business Network on what employers in the city need to know about COVID-19 and the impact on their business practices.

Law firms across Charlotte have established COVID-19 task forces and are using their websites as resource centers to provide information to help businesses navigate the coronavirus pandemic. The Charlotte Business Journal examined how firms are responding to the outbreak and spoke with Mason Alexander on why Fisher Phillips transformed its website into a COVID-19 resource page for visitors.

Tiffani Greene recently spoke with North Carolina Lawyers Weekly about The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, or FFCRA, which became law on March 18 and provides many workers with paid sick leave if they need to take time off work because of COVID-19.

In the Daily Journal article “Business group calls PAGA claim moratorium amid pandemic,” Los Angeles Partner Shaun Voigt offers his comments on a potential PAGA moratorium given the COVID-19 outbreak.

In the Kansas City Business Journal’s list of valuable resources, Fisher Phillips was cited for “offering employment information regarding COVID-19 on its website.” Samantha Monsees was also highlighted as a local labor and employment resource who recently spoke with Business Journal and offered valuable insights about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

In a podcast interview with the State Bar of Texas, Houston partner Teresa Valderrama offers guidance for employers as they navigate challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview with Bloomberg Law, Travis Vance explained that reconfiguring could mean that workers are doing tasks that they wouldn’t otherwise complete as part of their regular duties, and this may trigger workplace safety concerns.

CBT Automotive Network turned to Steve Cupp to walk employers through some of their most pressing questions regarding federal paid sick leave, remote work, workplace safety and reductions in force.

Bethesda, MD (March 25, 2020) – Fisher Phillips, a national workplace law firm representing employers, announces the addition of traditional labor attorney, Letitia F. Silas, as a Partner in the firm’s Bethesda office.

As a participant in a recent National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) webinar, partner Ed Foulke addressed the serious issues facing employers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Charlotte Partner Travis Vance recently spoke with Commercial Carrier Journal regarding the logistics surrounding truck drivers reporting symptoms of, or testing positive for, COVID-19 while on the road. 

In an interview with the Kansas City Business Journal, Samantha Monsees comments on the two main provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and how these provisions might impact employers.

In an article published by Hotel News Now on March 25, Andria Ryan, co-chair of Fisher Phillips’ Hospitality Industry Team, discusses the serious steps hotel properties have taken to mitigate risk for both employees and guests as COVID-19 continues to spread.

Jason Geller, San Francisco Regional Managing Partner, recently spoke with ToolBox HR on how California’s AB5 has changed the way employers engage with their workforce.

On March 25, 2020, the firm announced that Letitia Silas joined as a Labor Relations Partner in the firm’s Bethesda office. A former senior in-house labor counsel at Howard University and attorney at the NLRB, Letitia brings unique experience that will be valuable to the firm’s dedicated COVID-19 Taskforce.

In an interview with the Daily Report, Chairman and Managing Partner Roger Quillen explained how Fisher Phillips is focused on staying ahead of the curve when it comes to helping employers address COVID-19 workplace issues.

In a conversation with Law360, Kevin Troutman explains that it is of vital important for employers to regularly remind their workers that they are not facing this challenge alone.

In this SHRM article, Irvine partner Warren Nelson describes that there have been some industries that have been hit harder than others, including the hospitality industry.

In the Commercial Carrier Journal article “Fleets report freight slowdown while juggling social distancing of dispatchers and drivers,” Kansas City Partner James Sullivan comments on the outlook for the trucking industry given the COVID-19 panic. 

In the Daily Journal article “Governor suspended law requiring notice for mass layoffs,” San Diego Partner David B. Monks comments on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order to suspend California’s WARN Act, which requires employers give workers notice before massive layoffs.  

In an interview with Bloomberg Law, Travis Vance said that he has talked to over 250 clients in the past 14 days about coronavirus concerns, and he said that OSHA has been ‘reasonable’ in response to certain requirements.

Risa Boerner, Chair of the firm’s Data Security and Workplace Privacy Practice Group, spoke with Bloomberg Law on the emergence of legislation that bans employers from requiring their workers to have devices implanted into their bodies, such as microchips or RFID tags.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has loosened requirements for employers to give workers notice before laying them off in large numbers, as part of an executive order aimed at containing the economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak. However, Matthew Korn told Law360 that it wasn’t totally accurate to deem Newsom’s executive order a “suspension” of the state’s WARN Act.

In an interview with Bloomberg Law, Ed Foulke weighed-in on OSHA’s latest clarification on work-related virus exposure and noted that the new guidance could be interpreted to focus primarily on health-care workers and first responders who have a higher likelihood of being exposed to the disease on the job.

In an interview with Human Resource Executive, Jessie Bustamante touched on the fact that trust is a big part of the equation when it comes to remote work arrangements.

In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, corporate decision-makers are searching to strike the right balance between preparedness and panic. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Howard Mavity explains the role the CEO must play during a time like this.

In an interview with Law360, Emily Litzinger discusses what employers need to know when employees start working from home, and she emphasizes that “the first step is setting clear expectations” with a comprehensive work-from-home-policy.

Nation’s Restaurant News turned to Clarence Belnavis for guidance on how layoffs could have legal implications for restaurants. Some operators are laying off or furloughing workers, or temporarily shutting down operations altogether, but those short-term solutions could have long-term legal repercussions if employers don’t follow WARN Act requirements.

The coronavirus has had a major impact on companies around the world, and in the process, it has created a good amount of confusion about what employers legally can (and cannot) expect from their employees and vice versa.

The coronavirus is already impacting employers in Illinois, and it’s likely that those impacts will continue as companies start to see lawsuits being filed as a result of the outbreak.

Some states are ramping up efforts to protect workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak. Washington, for example, announced the state would take steps to ensure workers’ compensation protections for health care workers and first responders who are at higher risk of exposure as a natural consequence of their jobs.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) expects employers to track coronavirus infections in the workplace.

DETROIT (March 9, 2020) – Fisher Phillips, a national labor and employment law firm representing employers, welcomes Stephen R. Gee as an Associate in the firm’s Detroit office. Stephen arrives on the heels of the firm joining forces with The Murray Law Group under the Fisher Phillips brand in Detroit on January 1, 2020. 

Mike Miller and Tim Tack, two powerhouse Professional Employer Organization (PEO) attorneys joined Fisher Phillips’ Tampa office in January 2020.

Law firms, like all other employers, are doing whatever they can to prevent the spread of the coronavirus to the workforce. In addition, many firms are assembling task forces to help themselves and their clients navigate the business fallout from the virus.

Seattle Partner Catharine Morisset recently gave a live interview with Q13 News Seattle regarding COVID-19 and how employers and employees can maintain a healthy and safe workplace.

On March 5, 2020 a bill was introduced to the California legislature that would ban employers from firing or retaliating against employees who take days off from work to follow quarantine orders by public health officials or medical personal.

PORTLAND (March 5, 2020) – Fisher Phillips, a national labor and employment law firm representing employers, announced today that Clarence M. Belnavis, Regional Managing Partner of the firm’s Portland office, is the 2020 recipient of the Oregon State Bar’s Owen M. Panner Professionalism Award. The award is named after an esteemed member of the federal bench and honors a member of the bench or bar who exemplifies the highest personal and professional standards.

PHOENIX (March 5, 2020) – Fisher Phillips, a national labor and employment law firm representing employers, announces the addition of Kerry S. Martin as a partner in its Phoenix office.

As employers prepare for possible impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), one important step is to review the types of health disclosures that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) does and does not allow in such times of crisis.

HR and business leaders are likely considering whether they can send sick workers home or if they need to pay employees for missed work time due to Coronavirus. While the answers vary, at a minimum, employers should identify whether state or local paid-sick-leave laws cover these situations.

International Women’s Day celebrates women’s achievements while promoting more equal and inclusive workplaces.

Philadelphia (March 3, 2020) – Fisher Phillips, a national labor and employment law firm representing employers, announces the addition of Edward G. Winsman as Of Counsel in the firm’s Philadelphia office.

With the arrival of the coronavirus in the United States, employers and their in-house counsel are wondering what they can do to minimize the legal and/or financial risks to their businesses.

Employers in U.S. states without sick-leave laws likely will be responsible for determining the best course of action to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the workplace, and their options don’t necessarily have to include providing pay or job protections during periods of absence. Currently, many businesses are looking to state public health officials and the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for guidance.