Legal

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Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Hits NYC: What Employers Across the Country Need to Know About Prevention and Legal Exposure

A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has sickened dozens of people since early July, hospitalized more than a dozen, and claimed at least five lives this month, putting the spotlight on a workplace safety issue that many employers assume doesn’t apply to them. Legionnaires’ is a severe form of pneumonia caused by ...
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Before the Claim Comes: How Hospitality Operators Can Recover Faster After a Loss

The one-minute takeaway Business interruption claims in hospitality are growing. Operators who recover fastest aren’t just better insured; they’re better prepared. Here’s where to start. Hospitality operators know better than most that business continuity depends on being prepared for the unexpected. Power outages, wildfire-related road closures and civil authority orders are just a few of ...
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Beyond Active Shooters: The Hidden Scope of Workplace Violence in Hospitality

The One-Minute Takeaway: Workplace violence toward workers in the hospitality industry goes beyond physical harm. Recognizing and addressing more common issues like customer verbal abuse, threats, intimidation and harassment can help prevent escalation and keep your workforce safe. When people think of workplace violence, situations involving active shooters, mass casualty events and headlines that dominate ...
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“Yes, Chef!” 5 Employment Law Missteps in Hulu’s The Bear + What Your Company Can Learn

The final season of Hulu’s critically acclaimed kitchen drama The Bear is set to kick off on June 25, and no doubt it will continue to captivate audiences with its chaotic, high-pressure portrayal of restaurant life. The series follows Carmy Berzatto, a fine-dining chef who returns to Chicago to save his late brother’s sandwich shop, transforming it into ...
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EEOC Issues New Enforcement Plan: 5 Steps for Employers to Ensure Compliance with Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws

Employers now have a roadmap from the federal government on how best to comply with workplace anti-discrimination laws under the Trump administration. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) just released an updated National Enforcement Plan yesterday that replaces the last plan from the Biden administration. Notably, the plan prioritizes enforcement in intentional discrimination cases – ...
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Growing Use of Artificial Intelligence in U.S. Immigration Adjudications Is Driving Higher RFE and Denial Rates 

U.S. immigration agencies are rapidly expanding their use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in case processing, fraud detection, and security screening. While these systems are intended to improve efficiency, they are also contributing to a measurable rise in Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), denials, and erroneous rejections across multiple visa categories. ...
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TTB Shares Guidelines on Using AI-Generated Images in Alcohol Advertising

Alcohol brands are rushing to embrace artificial intelligence (AI)-generated imagery. It’s cost-effective, fast, and visually stunning. But there’s a compliance conversation the industry needs to have. Recently, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published guidance on the use of AI-generated images in alcohol beverage advertising – a clear signal that regulators are paying attention ...
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It’s Workplace Violence Prevention Month: Is Your Business Prepared?

April is Workplace Violence Prevention Month, serving as a reminder for all employers that dangerous altercations can happen anywhere, even at work. Anyone who comes in contact with your business – like guests, customers, patients, contractors, or even employees – can create a safety risk. And these risks can vary depending on what industry you’re ...
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Resort Employee Can Proceed with Disability Suit Over Service Dog in Housing: What Hospitality Employers Should Know

A recent federal court ruling presents a cautionary tale for employers when handling employee disability-related requests. The US District Court for the District of Utah’s January 13 decision allows the employee to proceed with discrimination claims against a mountain resort for failing to provide a disability-related accommodation in employer-provided housing. The employee claimed that Flaming ...
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EEOC Revokes Workplace Guidance on Gender Identity: Here’s What Employers Need to Know

As we anticipated, the Trump administration rescinded Biden-era guidance yesterday on transgender rights in the workplace. In a 2-1 vote, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) scrapped enforcement guidance requiring employers to provide bathroom, dress, and pronoun accommodations to applicants and workers. While Democratic Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal cautioned that the rule could only be lawfully ...
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