Law

The new year is a good time for employers to review and update employment practices. Proper policies and practices will reduce risks of costly employment claims. Here are some items to review:

The Trump Administration has proposed changes to the “public charge” rule that could have substantial implications on legal immigration processes.

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made several changes that will continue to have a significant effect on tax planning in the coming years – including charitable giving.

Emotional support animals can bring calm to people who need them – and legal confusion to employers.

In June 2018, Gov. Tom Wolf signed the “clean slate” bill into law, forcing businesses to exercise caution when using criminal records to make employment decisions.

The epidemic of substance abuse by young adults is causing parents to consider how best to provide in their estate plans for children who have this disorder.

Drone usage is flying ever higher in the U.S.

On July 12, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation to amend the Contractor and Subcontractor Payment Act (CASPA). Effective Oct. 10, 2018, these amendments represent a longstanding effort to change the status quo in construction contracts and further protect builders seeking payments.

A 2018 amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act has restaurants re-evaluating their tipping practices. The change states, “an employer may not keep tips received by its employees … including allowing managers or supervisors to keep any portion of employees’ tips … ’’

In most states, there are no outright prohibitions on short-term leases. However, homeowners offering properties through sites like Airbnb and VRBO may have to contend with local zoning regulations.

In a recent court case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that post-grant review of patents by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) is constitutional, but the board must decide the legitimacy of every challenged claim during a PTAB proceeding. Prior to this decision, it was common for PTAB to review some, but not all claims.

Forming audit committees is becoming more common in the nonprofit sector, offering an unbiased outlet to monitor an organization’s finances. Here are three things to consider when building an audit committee:

Reports of sexual harassment have flooded newsstands recently, causing lasting reputational damage. With public scrutiny significantly more intense, no member of an organization’s leadership team will be spared in the event of a scandal – especially its board.

The majority of citizens who join nonprofit boards have good intentions. On rare occasions, however, board members leverage their involvement for self-serving purposes to the detriment of the organization. A well-drafted conflict of interest policy is vital to protect the charity against charges of impropriety.

The United States is on the precipice of a massive skilled labor shortage, according to the 2017 Commercial Construction Index.

A judge recently granted Simon Property Group LP a preliminary injunction, halting the closure of Starbucks’ tea retailer, Teavana, in many Simon malls.

According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, most employers already have social media policies in place. However, in a world where the internet evolves daily, reviewing this policy each year is the best way to ward against potential liabilities.

In 2016, the Department of Labor announced changes to FLSA regulations, increasing the minimum salary threshold for exempt employees from $23,660 to $47,476.

Employers in Pennsylvania should take note of a recent decision by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The court ruled in favor of several employees who claimed they did not receive any compensation for short breaks lasting beyond 90 seconds.

Thirty-six local attorneys are shining a light on the affordable housing crisis in Pittsburgh with the development of the Landlord Tenant Project. Formed in 2013, the project provides advice and legal counsel to low-income individuals facing landlord disputes and other housing issues. The partnership consists of attorneys from Arconic, Alcoa and Meyer, Unkovic & Scott.