September 2009

The federal Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), provides this advice to small businesses in its recently released, Planning for H1N1 Influenza: A Preparedness Guide for Small Business. The Guide suggests a seven step process for developing your written plan.
Continue Reading Homeland Security Says Small Business Should Develop Written Plan to Prepare for H1N1

Under federal affirmative action laws, many banks are considered federal contractors because they are issuing and paying agents for U.S. savings bonds or they are insured by FDIC. However, as explained below, issuance and payment of U.S. savings bonds and FDIC insurance do not trigger e-Verify obligations.
Continue Reading Are Financial Institutions Required to Comply with e-Verify?

The Sixth Circuit has decided two new cases regarding ERISA lifetime retiree healthcare benefits under a collective bargaining agreement, continuing to put a thumb on the scale in favor of vested benefits, but recognizing that an employer may have the right to make “reasonable modifications” to those benefits.
Continue Reading More Case Law Regarding Documentation Required to Revise or Terminate Negotiated Retiree Healthcare Benefits

Earlier this week, The Columbus Dispatch reported that the Ohio State Highway Patrol has enacted a policy that will prevent state troopers from "posting pictures of themselves or others in uniform and from using the patrol’s ‘flying wheel’ insignia on social-networking sites without approval."  Ironically, the policy appears to have been prompted by a trooper who…

You may have noticed a spate of recent articles and announcements indicating that “all federal contractors” will be required to begin using the federal government’s E-Verify system beginning September 8, 2009. Originally set to take effect on January 15, 2009, there have been three prior delays in implementing mandatory use of E-Verify for federal contractors. On August 26, however, a federal district judge rejected a request for further delay, so it appears the E-Verify regulations will actually go into effect on September 8. (See our recent blog post.) In light of this, current contractors should start thinking about how E-Verify will affect them – if at all.  

Even though many of the articles on this topic indicate that “all federal contractors” are required to start using the system on September 8, the reality is that not all contractors will be covered and that even covered contractors have time after September 8 to enroll and start using E-Verify. Continue Reading E-Verify: What Does This Mean For My Company?