For years, U.S. employers with international operations have struggled to understand their obligations under the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) when implementing reductions-in-force and group layoffs. In a January 14, 2021, formal opinion letter, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) clarified that non-U.S. citizen employees working abroad may be excluded from OWBPA disclosures because such individuals are not “employees” for purposes of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA). Significantly, this…

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has approved revisions to its Compliance Manual Section on Religious Discrimination (Guidance). The revised Guidance, approved on January 15, 2021, draws upon several U.S. Supreme Court opinions issued since the agency’s last significant update to its guidelines in 2008. Click here to read the rest of the article on the Jackson Lewis website.…

Jackson Lewis’ Martin Aron has co-authored, “The Impact of COVID-19 on Employment Claims and Litigation,” published by Claims Magazine, Jan./Feb. 2021 issue.  The article focuses on (1) the variety of pandemic-related claims and litigation that have emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) the role human resources professionals, in-house counsel, and insurance claims professionals can play in reducing the risks and costs associated with COVID-19-related employment claims and litigation; (3) the challenges of mitigating damages and negotiating…

An employee who is categorically unable to comply with an employer’s valid workplace safety requirement is not a “qualified” individual under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), even if the safety requirement is not part of the “essential functions” of the employee’s position, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has reaffirmed in an unpublished decision. Holmes v. General Dynamics Mission Sys., 2020 U.S. App. Lexis 38425 (4th Cir. Dec. 9, 2020) (unpublished).…

A district court ruled that a long-time railroad trackman, who was pulled from service following safety complaints from his coworkers and supervisors, failed to prove that he was considered disabled under the ADA, and failed to prove that his employer (the railroad) violated the ADA when it required him to undergo a “fitness for duty” medical exam following his removal from service. Owen v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., No. 8:19CV462 (D. Neb. Nov. 12,…

As 2021 begins, Jackson Lewis is again providing “The Year Ahead for Employers” to clients. This comprehensive report covers all aspects of employment law and highlights 2020 issues, trends, legislative and regulatory activity, and litigation that employers need to be aware of and what to look out for in 2021. Highlights from the Litigation section of the report include our analysis of recent U.S. Supreme Court cases impacting LGBTQ+ rights and religious freedom…