The U.S. Supreme Court Has Spoken…What Now?

As you’re likely aware, the United States Supreme Court issued two highly anticipated decisions on January 13, 2022 addressing (1) the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS); and (2) the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)’s Interim Final Rule requiring healthcare worker vaccinations (also known as the CMS Rule).  While,Read More

‘Tis The Season to Start Preparing for the ‘Vax or Test’ Deadlines

Season’s greetings!  As we all begin the sprint into 2022, January 10th and February 9th are key dates on which to keep an eye on!  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 Vaccination Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS (also commonly referred to as the “vax or text” mandate)). The ETS has been mired inRead More

EEOC’s New COVID-19 Guidance – What You Need to Know

Just in time for the Memorial Day holiday, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued some much-needed guidance for employers on COVID-19-related topics.  The EEOC’s guidance comes in response to the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s May 13th updated guidance for vaccinating individuals.  The EEOC’s May 28th guidance adds to the ever-expanding listRead More

May 31 Deadline for New Cobra Notices is Fast Approaching

Many employers are aware that the American Rescue Plan Act (the “ARPA”) includes a 100% temporary COBRA subsidy for eligible individuals who lost health care coverage due to an “involuntary termination of employment” or a “reduction in hours.” The ARPA COBRA subsidy was enacted to cover certain eligible employees (often termed “Assistance Eligible Individuals”) fromRead More

Incentivizing Vaccines and Other Thorny Issues in 2021

The 2021 legal landscape for employers and human resources professionals continues to be a “wait-and-see” game as we enter the third month of 2021.  It’s now been almost a year since COVID-19 shut down many workplaces and generally disrupted everything about life as we all knew it, and the after-shocks continue to ripple.  With statesRead More

Is the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Really Expiring? What Does This Mean for You?

As we all eagerly anticipate the end of 2020, the end of the year also means the expiration of the mandated leaves under the FFCRA on December 31, 2020.  Indeed, as of the evening of December 21, 2020, Congress has voted to hold firm on the FFCRA expiration time table, and President Trump has signedRead More

Amy Dieterich to Speak on Workplace-related COVID-19 Issues

Skelton, Taintor and Abbott Shareholder Amy Dieterich and attorney Michael Malloy from the Malloy Firm will be discussing the latest workplace-related COVID issues for the L/A Chamber of Commerce on November 5th about leave issues under the ADA, FMLA and FFCRA, the new Maine paid leave law going into effect on January 1st and COVIDRead More

Up to the Minute Update: New Federal Department of Labor Regulations on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Take Effect on September

For those of you who attended Skelton Taintor & Abbott’s discussion about accommodating parents in the workplace with the Lewiston/Auburn Chamber of Commerce last week, it may come as no surprise that the federal Department of Labor (DOL) has just issued new regulations that respond directly to a recent New York ruling invalidating several portionsRead More

Your Employees’ Back-to-School Blues: Accommodating Parents in the Workplace whose Children are Learning Remotely During COVID-19

The 2020 school year is here.  Instead of new binder covers and backpacks, parents are now back-to-school shopping for ergonomic desks and web-cams.  It’s the “new normal,” and parents and employers are grappling with how to handle the reality that many parents may want or need to work from home this fall due to COVID-19,Read More

No Mask, No Service. What you need to know about the laws on face coverings in public places

You’ve seen the signs.  Maybe you’ve even posted them if your company is open to the public.  “No Mask, No Service” postings are showing up more frequently throughout Maine and around the country.  So, what are your rights as a business to post such a notice? In Maine, the Executive Order is controlling and hasRead More