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When President Donald Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14173—“Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity”—earlier this year, what grabbed headlines was the repeal of EO 11246, which had mandated that federal contractors meeting certain size criteria develop affirmative action plans since 1965. EO 14173 also created two new certifications on the system for award management […]
The recent spate of employee terminations resulting from social media posts after the killing of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk raises questions about what liability such terminations might have for employers. The amount of an employer’s potential liability will be based on whether they are a private or public employer. Background While employees have been fired […]
For the third consecutive legislative session, Massachusetts state representative Tram T. Nguyen has proposed a bill to establish a private right of action by employees on behalf of themselves, their fellow employees and the Commonwealth for employers’ alleged wage and hour violations. For the first time, however, Rep. Nguyen has some support from the other chamber: Several state senators have […]
It’s easy to say your company culture is one of employee support, engagement, and strong morals, but to actually build that culture is another thing. Promises and good faith can only get you so far. When creating a whole and healthy company culture, you need action. We learned this from NASCAR’s Manager of Employee Engagement, […]
The U.S. Supreme Court opened its new term facing a challenging docket and a distrustful public. The most watched cases all require the Court to more fully articulate the boundaries, if any, of its precedential ruling in Trump v. US, giving the president untrammeled authority over the executive branch, including the unrestricted right to terminate […]
Trey Anastasio, guitarist and vocalist for the band Phish, surprised “phans” by making a guest appearance with the psych-punk band Guerilla Toss on October 17, 2025, at the Brooklyn Bowl. He has a long history of making surprise guest appearances and supporting his fellow artists, including lesser known or emerging artists. For example, in 2022, he joined the indie-groove band, Goose, […]
Cell phones are a quintessential tool in modern society, including within the realm of employment. Many employers use various data networks that allow employees to access and store the employer’s data on their own personal cell phones or other personal devices under “bring your own device” (BYOD) practices. Allowing employees access to employer data from […]
Under the Biden administration, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) attempted to pursue a robust regulatory approach to restrict noncompete agreements. Those efforts were derailed in August 2024, however, when a federal court enjoined the FTC rule (which had tried to outlaw most noncompetes). Employers that thought noncompete agreements wouldn’t be an issue with the Trump […]
One of the biggest financial challenges for millions of employees in the United States is paying off student loan debt. According to the Federal Reserve, total student loan balances in the second quarter of this year hit $1.64 trillion—a number that has increased threefold in just two decades. After the pause on student loan payments […]
Weight is not a protected characteristic in most civil rights laws, meaning workplace discrimination based on weight is largely permitted. There is some momentum to include weight as a protected category in civil rights laws, however, given the growing body of research on the impact of weight bias. Employees who have high body weight may […]