Volume 25 /October 2026

HR and the Law in the News

Current News & Upcoming Events
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When Social Media, Religion & the Workplace Collide


An employer settled a claim of religious discrimination for $20,000 and two years of monitoring by the EEOC. The case arose after the employer fired an employee for his religious postings on his personal social media account.

Click here for the rest of the story.

Can an Employee Be Laid Off After Returning From FMLA Leave?


Of course, the answer is, "It depends." In this case, the judge reminds us, “in a RIF situation, the employer must specify why this particular employee, as opposed to any other employee, was terminated.” So, why did the judge rule the case should move forward?

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Click here to find out.
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U.S. Department of Labor Issues Three New Wage & Hour Opinion Letters


An employer offers non-exempt employees a 60-minute, unpaid meal period. However, employees are not allowed to eat at their work area and must walk up to 14 minutes round trip to a designated break area. Should those 14 minutes be paid because “[e]mployees are not fully relieved of their duties for the purpose of eating a meal until they can access their food in the designated break area”?
Click here for the DOL's answer to this and the other two scenarios.

Drug Addiction, Recovery, and the ADA


An employer has a blanket ban on hiring any applicant for any of its safety-sensitive positions if the applicant is prescribed suboxone. This is due to the potential side effects. Suboxone is an FDA-approved drug used to treat opioid addiction. Is the ban valid under the Americans with Disabilities Act if it applies only to the employer's safety-sensitive jobs?

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Click here for the EEOC's answer.
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OSHA Releases Fact Sheet on Opioid Overdose Recovery in the Workplace


Speaking of opioid addiction from the article above, the U.S. Department of Labor announced, "Workplace Guidance to Prepare Employers, Workers for Opioid Emergencies." The announcement includes a link to OSHA's new Fact Sheet with information for employers to learn how to obtain, maintain and train managers and employees on available resources should they need to respond to a workplace overdose

Click here for more information and links.
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Upcoming Events


  • Monday, October 5th, "Inspiring Voices & Shaping Tomorrow: A Top Ten Employment Update for HR Advocacy" a keynote presentation for the SHRM MD State Conference, Ocean City, MD





 
Click here for a full listing

This publication does not constitute the rendering of legal advice. Please consult your company's legal counsel for guidance on any matter. 

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