As part of a recent labor contract deal between the nurses’ union and Meridian Health in New Jersey, the union agreed to withdraw an unfair labor practice charge filed with the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) alleging Meridian unlawfully threatened nurses who posted social media messages in support of the…
“Don’t worry, our payment is secure because this is a public project with public funds. Right ?” Yes and No. It is only secure if you complied with certain statutory pre-notice requirements! When you supply materials, equipment or labor for a public project (i.e. “ a construction project paid for…
If the owner of a private, non-residential construction project in New Jersey defaults on making payment to the supplier of labor and or materials, one of the most important things that supplier can do is to file a Construction Lien to protect its rights and monies. For example, if a…
Are You a Material Supplier or Are You a Bank? If You Extend Credit to Customers You’re Both Does your business offer lines of credit to its customers? If so, are you approaching these transactions with the same caution as a bank? To facilitate business transactions with regular customers, many…
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employee’s religious practices, including religious garments. In an 8-1 ruling, the United States Supreme Court recently decided an employer may be liable for religious discrimination if its hiring decision was motivated by the applicant’s…
In recent years the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued numerous opinions that decidedly favor employee rights to engage protected activity under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) over employer rights to manage conduct in the workplace. However, a recent decision by a NLRB administrative law judge that Cooper…
On July 15, 2015 the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued an Administrator Interpretation aimed at eradicating what the DOL perceives as widespread improper misclassification of “employees” as “independent contractors” in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). According to the DOL, misclassifying workers as independent contractors results in…
In its recent landmark ruling in State v. Saavedra, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that a former school board employee who was pursing discrimination and retaliation claims against the school could be criminally prosecuted for removing confidential school documents she claimed would aid her in pursuing those legal claims.…
A recent decision from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (a federal court with jurisdiction over MD, NC, SC and VA) is a stark reminder to employers of the consequences of failing to appropriately respond to any and all claims of unlawful workplace harassment no, matter what the source. In…
For nearly 30 years the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) has reasoned that two businesses can only be deemed “joint employers” – and thus jointly responsible for purposes of collective bargaining and unfair labor practices – upon a showing that the companies exercised actual, direct and substantial control…