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On December 14, 2021, the EEOC updated its COVID-19 guidance to address disability protections for those experiencing COVID-19. In July, the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services issued “Guidance on ‘Long COVID’ as a Disability Under the ADA, Section 504, and Section 1557.”

Pursuant to a Department of Labor Final Rule implementing President Biden’s April 27, 2021 Executive Order 14026, which provides that the federal government’s procurement interests are promoted when it contracts with companies that adequately compensate their workers, federal contractors on four types of contracts will now be required to pay workers a minimum wage of at least $15 per hour, with increases to be published annually.

Did you know that November was National Home Care & Hospice Month? Every November, the home care and hospice community honors the country’s hardworking home health aides and homecare workers and, this year, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) has announced the start of a new initiative, ramping up education, outreach, and enforcement to ensure the rights of professional caregivers are protected.

New York employees received additional protection for whistleblowing activities on October 28, 2021, when Governor Kathy Hochul signed amendments to the state’s whistleblower law (Labor Law § 740).

In New York, “siblings” are now officially part of the family.

On October 20, 2021, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released two guidance memos for all federal agencies to promote federal union membership.

On July 9, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the Economy, which directs federal agencies including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take steps towards regulating the use of abusive tactics which restrict or limit economic competition.

A federal appellate court has ruled that call center employees are entitled to be paid for time spent logging on, booting up and downloading software on their computers, even if these activities take only a minute or two.

Last week, the Court of Federal Claims issued two decisions denying the Government’s motions to dismiss the overtime claims of federal correctional officers at FCI Sheridan in Oregon and FCC Beaumont in Texas. The case brought on behalf of workers at FCI Sheridan is called Adegbite v.

The U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule on Thursday, reinstating its policy of limiting when an employer may count the tips of its tipped employees toward its minimum wage obligations under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).