Virginia Employer Law

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Employer as to What is Compensable Time

In March, we reported that the United States Supreme Court had granted cert in a case involving the question of whether time spent by employees working for Amazon.com in security checks at the end of their shifts was compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). On December 9, the Supreme Court issued its ruling […]

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Former Bank Executive Prevails in Suit Regarding Severance Payment

Last month, Judge Poston of Norfolk Circuit Court ruled that the former President of Shore Bank and Executive Vice President of Operations for Hampton Roads Bankshares, was entitled to $655,495.43 in severance pay, plus interest, despite the defendants’ arguments that they were prohibited from making this type of golden parachute payment as a recipient of […]

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New Rule Prohibits Government Contractors from Discriminating Against Employees Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

On Wednesday, the Department of Labor announced a new rule aimed at protecting those working for government contractors from discrimination based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity. The new rule implements Executive Order 13672, which was signed by President Obama on July 21, 2014.

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Eleventh Amendment Bars FLSA Claim against Supervisors at Eastern State Hospital Where Actions Inextricably Tied to Official Duties

Earlier this week, the Fourth Circuit directed the district court to dismiss a FLSA claim brought by a nurse against two of her supervisors at Eastern State Hospital, finding that there was no basis for individual liability and sovereign immunity barred the claims. Martin v. Wood, et al., Case No. 13-2283 (4th Cir. Nov. 18, […]

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Tipped Employees Must Have Actual Notice of Use of Tip Credit

The tip credit permitted under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) has always presented challenges to restaurants and other employers seeking to apply it correctly. Last month, the First Circuit addressed the tip credit and the question of the type of notice which must be given to employees regarding its use in the case of […]

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District Court Has Jurisdiction over Retaliation Claim Related to Prior Charge, Even Prior Charge that was Untimely

The Fourth Circuit recently ruled that the district court properly ruled that it had jurisdiction over a claim of retaliation in violation of Title VII asserted by an Old Dominion University professor, even though the retaliation claim was not contained within her initial EEOC charge and that charge was, in fact, untimely. Hentosh v. Old […]

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Even Extremely Flexible Schedule Accommodation Request Not Unreasonable as a Matter of Law

The United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recently reversed the decision of the district court in the case of Solomon v. Vilsack, No. 12-5123 (D.C. Cir. August 15, 2014), a case involving an employee’s request to have significant flexibility in the her working hours as a reasonable accommodation for her disability. The […]

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No FMLA Retaliation Where Employer Can Show Employee Terminated for Improperly Accessing Supervisor’s Email

The decision of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in the case of Downs v. Winchester Medical Center, et al., No. 5:13cv00083 regarding what constitutes a claim for interference in violation of the FMLA was the topic of a posting from a few months ago. The district court had found […]

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Executive Order 13658 “Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors” Final Rule

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Labor issued the final rule that raises the minimum wage for workers on federal contracts to $10.10 an hour. The 338 page rule, which takes effect on January 1 2015, implements Executive Order 13658. The final rule provides for employers guidance as to which contracts and which employees are […]

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No USERRA Claim Where Vet Terminated Based on Threats Made Against Co-workers

In a recent decision, a judge in the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed the claims asserted by a United States Army veteran with PTSD that his employer had terminated him in violation of both the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemplyoment Rights Act (“USERRA”) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). Williamson v. Bon Secours Richmond […]

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