On May 28, 2019, the New York City Council held a public hearing regarding proposed amendments to New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (“ESSTA”) which would require employers to provide eligible employees with “personal time.” The bill also would provide more protections for employees, including protections against retaliation and the addition of monetary penalties for employer violations. The most sweeping change in the new ESSTA bill would be the requirement that all…

Join Shipman & Goodwin employment attorneys Zach Hummel and Keegan Drenosky for this complimentary CLE webinar outlining the steps employers should take to conduct legally sound workplace investigations arising from complaints involving discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, bullying, violence, whistleblowing, retaliation, fraud and other activities. The value of an effective workplace investigation can’t be overstated.  A thorough and well-constructed workplace investigation will give an employer the factual findings on which it may take appropriate action and…

Join Shipman & Goodwin employment attorneys Zach Hummel and Keegan Drenosky for this complimentary CLE webinar outlining the steps employers should take to conduct legally sound workplace investigations arising from complaints involving discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, bullying, violence, whistleblowing, retaliation, fraud and other activities. The value of an effective workplace investigation can’t be overstated.  A thorough and well-constructed workplace investigation will give an employer the factual findings on which it may take appropriate action and…

The Connecticut Appellate Court ruled this week that an employee’s request for extended intermittent leave is not a “reasonable” accommodation under the state’s anti-discrimination laws. You can download Barbabosa v. Board of Education here. The decision provides some much needed guidance to an area that has been increasingly litigated — namely whether a medical leave, above and beyond FMLA leave, is required as a reasonable accommodation. The background on the case is fairly straightforward and…

The Conflict between U.S. and Foreign Marijuana Legalization Laws and U.S. Federal Drug and Immigration Laws The use of legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes is legal in 33 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and the recreational use of marijuana is legal in 10 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Other U.S. states are currently considering the enactment of similar legalization of marijuana laws. Numerous foreign countries, such as Canada where the Cannabis Act…

On April 17, Peter J. Murphy and Gregory A. Jones presented a complimentary webinar on the topic of difficult employees and strategies for managing those individuals.  The webinar reviewed various types of difficult behavior, including absenteeism, insubordination, and even violent employees, and gave supervisors strategies for de-escalating tense moments and promoting a healthy atmosphere in the workplace.  The complimentary webinar replay is now available to watch on demand. >>Watch Webinar Replay  *Please follow the…

As we enter the spring of 2019, employers should review their employee handbook and personnel policies to ensure that they are in compliance with several new laws and amendments which have recently (or will soon) take effect in New York and New York City.…