NJ Assembly Passes Amended Employment Bill

The NJ Assembly has approved (25 yes-0 no-15 not voting) and amended version of  A2617 that Requires employers to provide hiring preference to employees who have reached maximum medical improvement following work-related injury. 

Court Upholds Mandatory Vaccination or Termination

A Federal court has dismissed an action brought by 117 employees against Houston Methodist hospital’s policy requiring employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by June 7, 2021, or be terminated.

Vaccines highly effective against hospitalization from Delta variant

An encouraging analysis by PHE shows for the first time that two doses of COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalization from the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant. Unfortunately, those who aren’t vaccinated face increased risk. 

NJ Judges of Compensation Seek Return to State Pension System

The legislation now pending before the NJ Assembly would permit reinstatement of NJ Judges of Workers Compensation into the state pension system (A1032 3R). A similar bill has already passed the NJ Senate (S758 3R) on February 19, 2021 (29-5-5).

Cybersecurity Must be a Shared Responsibility

Cybersecurity security is becoming even more acute of an issue for law firms. The recent pandemic increased the reliance upon remote technology as lawyers and supporting staff have worked from home and participated in virtual meetings and hearings. The recent ransomware attacks on major utilities have created heightened concerns. 

OSHA Finally Acts: Is It Too Little and Too Late?

Today OSHA released a COVID Emergency Temporary Standard [ETS] for health care workers and guidance for workers, not in a health care setting. OSHA’s action comes about a year and a half after the COVID-19 Pandemic began and when over half of the nation’s workforce has already the protection of received an initial vaccination.

The Exclusivity Rule Is Not A Bar to a Discrimination Action

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that an employer could be liable under both the Law Against Discrimination Act [LAD] and the Worker's Compensation Act (WCA). Court reasoned that the dual remedies can work in harmony as they are both statutory claims. The Court noted that the common law remedies of the LADs are not prohibited by the WCA since they are statutory in nature. By allowing both claims to go forward, a worker is not limited to the statutory caps for recovery under the Worker's Compensation Act.