The National Labor Relations Board ("Board") yesterday proposed significant amendments to procedures in representation cases involving secret ballot elections. According to the Board, the proposed amendments are intended to "remove unnecessary barriers to the fair and expeditious resolution of questions concerning representation" and, if adopted, will streamline pre- and post-election procedures, facilitate electronic communications and document filing, and reduce unnecessary litigation.

National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") Acting General Counsel Lafe E. Solomon recently issued a second report reviewing fourteen NLRB decisions involving employee use of social media and online communications.

In its first decision addressing the validity of an employer's social media policy, the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") recently invalidated Costco's handbook policy that prohibited employees from electronically posting messages that "damage the Company, defame any individual or damage any person's reputation."

In a highly anticipated decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled earlier this week, in Staub v. Proctor Hospital, that an employer can be held liable under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) for unlawful discrimination by an official other than the primary decision-maker.

The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") issued a policy statement ("Statement") raising significant concerns about consumer privacy, data security, and the potential for bias and discrimination associated with the increasing use of biometric information and related technologies.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has recently approved an important amendment to the Permit Extension Act of 2010 that will extend the life of development related permits and approvals for an additional three years.

Health care reform is the current top agenda item for the Senate Finance Committee.

The annual deadline for filing Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts is fast approaching.

On March 18, 2015, National Labor Relations Board ("Board") General Counsel Richard F. Griffin, Jr. issued a two-part report reviewing recent Board decisions concerning employee handbook rules.

Connecticut will become the first state in the nation to require private-sector employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees.

Several days after signing a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Labor allowing the agencies to share information and coordinate enforcement efforts to stop the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) launched an optional settlement program that will enable employers to resolve past worker classification issues.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently signed into law new posting and notice requirements for employers, scheduled to take effect November 21, 2012, relating to pay equality under state and federal law.

It's not often that business owners get good news from the government, but small and even some medium-sized businesses with 401(k) plans got a helping hand from the U.S. Department of Labor...

In a case of major importance for ocean liner carriers and the railroad industry the United States Supreme Court issued a decision on June 21, 2010 holding that the Carmack Amendment does not apply to a shipment originating overseas under a through bill of lading.

New H-1B visa petitions can be filed with the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services beginning April 1, 2013.

On Thursday, May 21, 2009, the full Committee on Energy and Commerce of the U.S. House of Representatives passed, by vote of 33 to 25, comprehensive energy legislation, H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 ("ACES" or the "ACES bill").

This edition of Attorney Spotlight highlights one of my honored New York City colleagues in Blank Rome's Matrimonial & Family Law group—Marilyn B. Chinitz.

The Philadelphia Water Department and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation have announced a new Stormwater Management Incentives Program (SMIP) Grant, which complements the existing SMIP Loan Program.

In a Chief Counsel Memorandum released on November 25, 2011, the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") Office of Chief Counsel said that a taxpayer operating a continuing care retirement community ("CCRC") can properly treat its facilities as residential real property subject to a 27.5 year recovery period.

The opening session for this year's Connecticut Maritime Association Shipping Conference is titled, "We've always been an industry, now we need to be a business."