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On Nov. 8, 2022, Missouri voters approved Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative, which legalizes recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and older in the state. The new law goes into effect on Dec. 8, 2022. Employer Impact Amendment 3 does not prevent employers from enforcing drug-free workplace policies or disciplining or firing employees for using…

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released its September Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. The month’s reported number of job openings increased by 437,000 to 10.7 million, surpassing what economists had forecasted. The September report follows several months of record-high job openings and quit rates. September’s increase in more than 400,000 job…

On Oct. 26, 2022, the U.S Department of Labor (DOL) announced it would extend the comment period for its proposed independent contractor rule after pressure from business groups and lawmakers regarding the original timeline. Originally, the DOL provided 45 days for public comment. Stakeholders will now have until Dec. 13, 2022, to comment. Business groups…

Commercial excess liability insurance and umbrella insurance are secondary coverage policies that attach after primary insurance policy limits—such as general liability, employer’s liability and commercial auto insurance—have been exhausted. This additional coverage can protect your business from the financial consequences of large losses that exceed what your primary insurance can cover. While excess liability and…

On Oct. 11, 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it is extending  updated flexibilities for Form I-9 due to the continued safety precautions related to COVID-19 until July 31, 2023. Background Federal law requires every employer that recruits, refers for a fee or hires an individual for employment in the United States…

On Sept. 23, 2022, the FMCSA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) and requested comments on whether it should amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to require every commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operating in interstate commerce to be equipped with electronic identification (ID). This electronic ID would be capable of wirelessly…

While repetitive motion injuries (RMIs) are common among athletes, these injuries can occur in the workplace. Also known as repetitive stress injuries or cumulative trauma disorders, RMIs impact a broad range of occupations, including jobs that require heavy lifting and stationary office roles. RMIs occur when continuous physical stress from daily tasks damages nerves, tendons…

On Aug. 16, 2022, the IRS updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the employer shared responsibility (pay or play) rules under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to include updated penalty amounts for 2023. For calendar year 2023, the adjusted $2,000 penalty amount is $2,880 and the adjusted $3,000 penalty amount is $4,320. Pay or…

Website accessibility laws have evolved over the past decade, inundating courts with lawsuits filed by individuals with disabilities—typically those with sight or hearing impairments—claiming that businesses’ websites are not accessible to them. While Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act does not mention websites or mobile apps, many lawsuits are based on the requirement…

Employers are seeing an increase in lawsuits from former employees alleging deficient Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) election notices, with statutory penalties of up $110 per person per day. These lawsuits are generally class actions and can result in significant attorneys’ fee awards for successful ex-employees. The fact employers are struggling to comply with…