BW INSIGHTS

Court Blocks FTC Rule Banning Employment Noncompete Agreements on a Limited Basis

On May 7, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a Final Rule banning most post-employment non-competes for all workers, except senior executives, employed by for-profit employers. However, recent judicial decisions are stirring up problems for the Final Rule. Important Court Rulings On July 3, 2024, in Ryan LLC v. Federal Trade... Read More

Supreme Court Tightens Standards for NLRB Injunctive Relief

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent federal agency tasked with safeguarding employees' rights and addressing unfair labor practices by employers. In the recent Supreme Court case Starbucks Corp. v. McKinney, 144 S. Ct. 1570 (2024), the Court's 8-1 decision imposed the stricter traditional four-factor test for granting... Read More

Recent Challenges to Plan Forfeitures

Recent lawsuits are challenging 401(k) plan sponsors’ use of forfeitures to reduce employer contributions. Such practice is a long-standing precedent permitted by the Internal Revenue Service “IRS.” Plaintiffs in these suits claim that the decision on how to apply forfeitures is a fiduciary determination. The plaintiffs further allege it is a... Read More

FTC Publishes Final Rule Banning Non-Competes

On May 7, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a Final Rule banning most post-employment non-competes. The Final Rule becomes effective on September 4, 2024. While the Final Rule faces statutory and constitutional challenges which may potentially delay and even halt the Effective date, employers should still take steps to become... Read More

The FTC Votes to Ban Non-Compete Agreements

In a 3-2 vote, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued a new rule (the “Final Rule”) on April 23, 2024, banning virtually all post-employment non-competes in employee-employer contracts. In a highly anticipated decision, the FTC found that non-compete agreements between an employer and employee are unfair competition violating section 5 of the... Read More

EEOC Adopts Expansive Final PWFA Rule

At the end of 2022, President Biden signed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) into law. The Act, among other things, requires employers to offer reasonable workplace accommodations to workers who are pregnant, or have a condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, unless the accommodation would cause the business an undue hardship. The law... Read More

Examining OSHA's Walkaround Rule

In a recent development, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has finalized a contentious proposed rule regarding the Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process. Set to take effect on May 31, 2024, this rule has sparked considerable debate, particularly within the manufacturing sector and among legal experts. What is... Read More

DOL Independent Contractor Final Rule

On January 9, 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) released its Final Rule which changes the criteria for classifying independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Final Rule is set to take effect on March 11, 2024, and rescinds the 2021 independent contractor rule, replacing it with an analysis that the DOL explains, is... Read More

The NLRB Issues a Final Rule Regarding The Joint-Employer Standard

On October 26, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board issued a final rule addressing how to determine whether two employers have joint-employer status. The final rule introduced a broadened standard as to who may classify as a joint-employer. The new standard will go into effect on December 26, 2023. A “New” Standard The final rule establishes... Read More