This week, we look at two significant court decisions for employers and bring you a practical update on new bereavement leave rules in Illinois.

Video: YouTubeVimeo.

Podcast: Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsOvercastSpotifyStitcher.

SCOTUS: FAA Preempts California's PAGA Loophole

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that an individual claim under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) is subject to an arbitration agreement. This ruling will apply to all pending and future PAGA litigation involving otherwise enforceable arbitration agreements with class and representative action waivers. Read more.

Fifth Circuit Rules COVID-19 Is Not a Natural Disaster Under WARN

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held last week that the onset of COVID-19 did not qualify as a “natural disaster” that would have exempted a drilling company from providing employees with Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices in March 2020. This is the first appellate court to rule on this issue.  

Illinois Expands Bereavement Leave

Following a growing nationwide trend, Illinois recently enacted amendments to its Child Bereavement Leave Act, a law which previously permitted employees to take up to 10 unpaid workdays to mourn the loss of a child. Read more.

Other Highlights

COVID-19 WORKFORCE (re)sources
Click here to see what the federal government and state and local governments have done recently to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Employers, Are You Ready for a Possible Post-Roe Workplace?
Workforce Bulletin
Jennifer Barna, Sahar Shiralian, Gretchen Harders, Lucas Peterhans

New York’s Enactment of the Adult Survivors Act: What You Need to Know
Workforce Bulletin
Melissa Jampol, Lori Medley

For Your Benefit … Understanding Machine-Readable Files
Audiocast
Tzvia Feiertag, Cassandra Labbees, Karen Mandelbaum, Steve Parente

About Employment Law This Week

Employment Law This Week® gives a rundown of the top developments in employment and labor law and workforce management in a matter of minutes every #WorkforceWednesday®. 

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