June Newsletter from Wessels Sherman

Minnesota Client Alert

Legal News for Minnesota Employers

June 2017

Final Warning to Implement Policy Changes for Minneapolis and St. Paul Sick Time / Safe Laws

In 2016, both Minneapolis and St. Paul passed city ordinances requiring private employers to provide their employees with paid sick time / safe time. These ordinances, despite opposition in the courts and in the legislature, go into effect on July 1, 2017. Many employers already provide their employees with paid time off; however, it is wrong to assume that more generous leave policys automatically satisfy these ordinances. Unfortunately, the majority of existing leave policies require modifications to fully comply with these new laws. Some of the more common areas that we have been addressing with clients, include:

Ensuring that leave can be used for all of the purposes allowed in the ordinances (e.g. domestic abuse).
Eliminating existing restrictions common in most employers' leave policies that may not be applied to these newly mandated leaves (e.g. documentation or other forms of proof).
Conflicts between existing "use-it-or-lose-it" policies and new rights to carry over accrued leave from year to year.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trump Nominates Two New NLRB Members Likely To Bring About Significant Changes in Federal Labor Law Precedent

President Trump recently nominated two conservatives to serve on the five-member National Labor Relations Board. After tapping Marvin Kaplan, caused for the Occupation Safety and Health Review Commission. This week President Trump named William Emanuel to the Board's final spot. Mr. Emmanuel is a shareholder with the Littler Mendelson law firm, a management-side labor law firm.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trump Names a New Chair to Head the EEOC

President Trump has appointed Janet Dhillon, an attorney from the mega law firm, Jones Day, to serve as Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Dhillon's background with a law firm that represents businesses is expected to bring a better appreciation of employers and the challenges they face in complying with a growing number of civil rights laws and regulations in the workplace.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

President Trump Appoints MN Supreme Court Justice to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

On May 8 th President Trump began nominating judges to fill more than 125 existing vacancies in the nation's federal courts. Among his first 10 nominees following the recent appointment of Justice Neal Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, is our own Minnesota Supreme Court Justice David Stras, whom the President nominated to a seat on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Assuming Judge Stras' appointment is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he will continue to influence legal issues in Minnesota but on the federal level since the Eighth Circuit oversees the federal courts in Minnesota as well as Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and North and South Dakota.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not if, But When: Employers Must Have Plan in Place to React to; Data Breaches Compromising Employee Records

Last year U.S. companies and government agencies reported 1,093 data security breaches, a 40 percent increase from 2015. The high-profile breaches include the hacking that affected more than 1,000 Wendy's Co. chains in July 2016. Just last month, McDonald's Canada announced that data of 95,000 of its job applicants were compromised in a cyber-breach. But, it is not only cyber hacking that can cause security breaches for companies.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wessels Sherman's Minnesota Office Hosted Our Annual Seminar

Wessels Sherman's Minnesota office recently hosted the firm's annual labor and employment law seminar for employers, accountants, attorneys and other business professionals at the beautiful Radisson Blu, Mall of America hotel. James Sherman, firm President/CEO and Founder/Managing Shareholder of Wessels Sherman's Minneapolis office, welcomed the room full of attendees from many states and a broad spectrum of industries and fields.

Read More
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WS Quick Links

Wessels Sherman Website

Blog

Resources

About Us

Consult with experienced labor & employment lawyers whenever you need advice, without worrying about legal fees!

For more information about Wessels Sherman's unique Phone Consultation Program, check our web page by clicking on the below link; or contact Justin Engelmann at (952) 746-1700, or by email.

Phone Program Information

Did You Know?

Wessels Sherman has well-staffed offices with experienced attorneys to assist with our readers' legal needs in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa too. Businesses with operations/matters in these states are encouraged to call any of our attorneys for assistance. Additionally, Wessels Sherman attorneys regularly work with other lawyers as a highly cost-effective and trusted co-counsel and local counsel. Referrals are always appreciated and respected.

Minnesota Client Alert is a complimentary newsletter published for clients and friends of Wessels Sherman. We reserve the right to limit distribution of our materials to representatives of management. The materials in this newsletter have been abridged from a variety of sources and are not necessarily applicable to a particular situation. The contents of this mailing should not be construed as legal advice. State laws vary. Readers should consult with legal counsel before taking any action on matters covered by this mailing.

Editor-in-Chief:

James B. Sherman, Esq.