Featured Articles

EEOC Proposes New Age Discrimination Regulations

Dennis Westlind
February 18, 2010 15:17

Today the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) releases new regulations that will define employers' "reasonable factors other than age" or "RFOA" defense under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).  The new regulations would reflect...

How Does the Heath Care Reform Package Impact Employers?

Dennis Westlind
April 01, 2010 14:25

The health care reform legislation passed by Congress places significant new responsibilities on employers, group health plans, insurers, and individuals. The Stoel Rives Employee Benefits team has developed the following overview of the most significant issues affecting employers and...

Medical Marijuana and Zero Tolerance Drug Testing Policies Remain An Issue For Employers

Dennis Westlind
March 08, 2011 13:10

Employers and the courts continue to wrestle with issues involving “zero tolerance” drug testing policies and whether employers must accommodate medical marijuana use by their employees. Marijuana use is strictly illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act, and therefore...

California: Employee's E-Mails With Lawyer Are Not Privileged When Sent Via Company Computer

Dennis Westlind
January 20, 2011 14:30

A clear and comprehensive computer policy is an essential component of any employee handbook. Last week, a California appellate court ruled that when such a policy is in place, an employee who uses the company computer to e-mail her attorney about perceived harassment and discrimination in the...

Despite Assertions to Contrary, Employment Laws Do Exist

Dennis Westlind
January 29, 2010 17:14

On my way in to work this morning, I was listening to NPR’s Morning Edition, and caught an interview with Lewis Maltby, president of the National Workrights Institute. The interview was ostensibly to promote Mr. Maltby’s new book, “ Can They Do That?” in which he discusses...

New Salt Lake City Ordinances Prohibit Housing and Employment Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation

Dennis Westlind
November 11, 2009 18:18

Yesterday the Salt Lake City Council unanimously passed ordinances prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.  Click here to download a copy of the City Council's Staff Report on the ordinances, along with full text of the new laws.  Highlights of...

Supreme Court to Rule on Authority of Two-Member NLRB

Dennis Westlind
November 04, 2009 15:47

This week the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal in New Process Steel v. NLRB and determine whether the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has the authority to decide cases with only two sitting members.  The NLRB is the independent federal agency that administers the National...

The Do's and Don'ts of Employee Handbooks

Dennis Westlind
February 10, 2011 14:00

Employee handbooks can operate as useful management tool to ensure fairness and consistency in employment practices which in turn may limit an employer’s exposure to unwanted and costly litigation. But if not carefully drafted an employee handbook may unwittingly supply a disgruntled...

Homeland Security Announces Temporary Protected Status for Haitian Nationals

Dennis Westlind
January 20, 2010 15:40

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced last week a temporary protected status ("TPS") for Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010.  The temporary status  will allow eligible Haitian nationals to continue living and working...

Washington Domestic Partnership Law Impacts Employee Benefits and Family Leave

Dennis Westlind
November 17, 2009 18:40

Washington voters recently approved Referendum 71, giving registered domestic partners all of the rights and responsibilities of married couples under Washington state law.   Prior domestic partnership laws gave registered domestic partners limited rights and responsibilities such as...