Reliance Standard and Matrix are committed to keeping our clients informed and in compliance. We will provide updates on meaningful changes ‐ and how they may affect our clients – as necessary. Additional information will be forthcoming related to any required change in Matrix’s process, practice, or written or verbal employee communications as a result of these updates.
For up-to-the-minute information on the changing regulatory environment, subscribe to Matrix Radar, the absence industry's leading legislative blog.
December 2018 - January 2019
- A Look Ahead -- State Paid Family and Medical Leave Legislation for 2019 is Here!
- A Look Back -- 2018 Developments in Review
November 2018
- California Adds Military Family Needs to PFL Coverage
- New York adds organ donation to state Paid Family Leave reasons
- Washington state paid Family and Medical Leave moves forward
- Employers: Act Now! Federal Tax Credit for Paid Family and Medical leave Benefits Can Still be Applied to All of 2018
- Staffing Agency Recruiter Purportedly Tells Applicant “We Don’t Hire Deaf People” Sued by the EEOC
- EEOC Update | Staffing Agency Recruiter Purportedly Tells Application “We Don’t Hire Deft People” Sued by the EEOC
May-June 2018
- Paid Family and Medical Leave Update
- Colorado Living Donor Support Act
- FMLA Forms are Expired - Big Deal or Not?
- Temporary ADA "Accommodation" is Not a Concession
April 2018
- Legislation of Interest - Enacted and Pending Legislation
- Legislative Spotlight - Pregnancy Accommodation Laws
- EEOC Update - Pregnancy Discrimination Remains a Priority for the EEOC
- Court Case of Interest - Employee Could Not Show Her Caregiving Responsibilities Were a Determining Factor in Termination of Employment
February, March 2018
- State Legislative Update - Leave Law Legislative Activity - Coming to a State Near You!
- EEOC Update - ADA Claims 2008 vs. 2017
- DOL Update - New ERISA Disability Claims Handling Rules Become Reality on April 1st
- Court Opinion - ADA "Regarded As" and "Associational Discrimination" Cases
January 2018
- Federal Legislative Update - Paid Family Leave Tax Credit is Part of the New Tax Bill
- State Legislative Update - 2017 Year in Review
- EEOC Update - Meet Your 2018 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- EEOC Update - Recent EEOC Consent Decrees
- Court Opinion - Mental Health Exams and "Regarded As" Liability
December 2017
- State Legislative Update - New York Paid Family Leave "Notice to Employees" Available
- DOL - 90-Day Delay of ERISA Disability Claims Rules Change
- EEOC Update - Another Employer with a "100% Healed" Policy Brought to Heel
- EEOC Update - Consent Decrees
- EEOC Update - Strategic Enforcement Plan for FY 2018-2022 Announced
November 2017
- Federal Legislative Update - Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence Introduced in Both the House and Senate
- EEOC Update - Employer Agrees to EEOC Consent Decree to Settle Pregnancy Discrimination Act Claim
- EEOC Update - Commercial Real Estate Company Sued by EEOC for ADA Violation
- Court Opinions - Pushing Back on Lengthy Leaves as an ADA Accomodation: Two Cases from the 7th Circuit
- Court Opinions - Lucky Employer Skates on ADA Liability
- Court Opinions - A Request for "Retroactive Leniency" is Not a Reasonable Accommodation
October 2017
- State Legislative Update - New York State's First Wave of Paid Family Leave Forms Released
- State Legislative Update - Rhode Island Joins the Paid Sick and Safe Leave Bandwagon
- EEOC Update - A Fiscal Year-End Blitz of ADA Lawsuits
- EEOC Update - DOL Proposed Delay in the Effective Date for ERISA Disability Claims Handling Rules
- Court Opinions - Severson v. Heartland Woodcraft, Inc. (7th Cir. Sept. 20, 2017)
September 2017
- State Legislative Update - California Proposes to Amend the California Family Rights Act (CFRA)
- State Legislative Update - New York Paid Family Leave Update
- State Legislative Update - Rhode Island Putting Final Touches on Paid Sick and Safe Leave
- EEOC Update - UPS with Inflexible Leave Policies (Again)
- EEOC Update - Pregnancy and Parental Leave Lawsuits Abound
- EEOC Update - Other EEOC Pregnancy and Disability Cases of Note
- Court Opinions - Walker v. Verizon Pennsylvania (E.D. Pa. August 25, 2017)
August 2017
- State Legislative Update - Hawaii Adds Siblings as Covered Relationship for Family Leave
- State Legislative Update - CT & MA Enact Laws Providing More Workplace Pregnancy Protections
- State Legislative Update - New York Paid Family Leave; Final Regulations
- State Legislative Update - Washington State; 10 Years Later
- EEOC Update - Company Sued for Refusing to Hire Deaf Applicant Due to "Safety Concerns"
- EEOC Update - Believe it or Not: Some Employers Still Fail to Engage in the Interactive Process
- EEOC Update - Even Health Services Employers Can Violate the ADA
- EEOC - Company Accused of Denying ADA Reasonable Accomodation and Firing Sales Representative with Lifting Restrictions
- EEOC - DOL Announces Review of New ERISA Claims Handling Rules (Slated 1/1/2018)
- Court Opinions - Barbuto v. Advantage Sales and Marketing, LLC (Mass. SJC July 17, 2017)
July 2017
- New York Paid Family Leave - Update
- Washington State Paid Family Leave - Crosses the Finish Line
- Paid Family Leave - The Hot Topic Du Jour
- California - Domestic Violence Leave Rights (Reminder)
- Nevada - Domestic Violence Victims Leave
- EEOC Update - KFC Franchise Sued for ADA Violation
- EEOC Update - Consent Decree Resolves ADA Violations
- DOL - FMLA Opinion Letters are Back
- Court Opinions - Pollard v. New York Methodist Hospital (2nd Cir. June 30, 2017)
June 2017
- Passed Legislation - Texas: A New Standard in Leaves of Absence
- Passed Legislation - New York: Progress on Finalizing Details for New Paid Family Leave Law
- EEOC Update - Employer's Assumptions Creates an ADA Liability
- EEOC Update - Lawsuit Claims Firing was Retaliation for Posting on Social Media
- EEOC Update - 2016 Interpretation on Joint Employment Withdrawn
- Court Opinions - Marshall v. The Rawlings Company, LLC
- Court Opinions - Waag v. Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc.
April & May 2017
- State Legislative Update
- The Power of the EEOC - Looking for Lowe's Claimants for Settlement
- Pregnancy Disability & Accommodations - 2017 Proposed Bills
- Disability Services Company Settles EEOC Lawsuit
- Assorted Other EEOC Quick-Hits
- Court Opinions: Walking the Walk - Service Dogs in the Workplace
March 2017
- Family & Medical Leave - 2017 Proposed Bills
- Paid Family Leave - 2017 Proposed Bills
- Pregnancy Disability & Accommodations - 2017 Proposed Bills
- Caregiver Protections - 2017 Proposed Bills
- Paid Sick & Safe Leave - 2017 Proposed Bills
- Miscellaneous Other Leave Legislation - 2017 Proposed Bills
- EEOC Focus on Accommodation Obligations During Application Process
- EEOC Continued Focus on ADA Enforcement - Return to Work
- Court Opinion - Braddock vs. UPS
February 2017
- EEOC Releases Statistics on Charges Filed, Resolved in FY 2016
- Papa John's Violates ADA, Required to Pay $125,000
- Trump Appoints Victoria A. Lipnic EEOC Acting Chair
- EEOC V. Wal-Mart - Failure to Restore Disabled Employee's Schedule
- Court Opinion - FedEx Withstands Employee Interference, Retaliation Claim (Scales v. FedEx Ground Package System, Inc.)
- Court Opinion - Regular Attendance can be Essential Function (Williams v. AT&T Mobility Services, LLC)
January 2017
- The Final(?) Word on San Francisco Paid Parental Leave
- A Game Changer: DOL Releases New ERISA Disability Claims Rules
- EEOC Sues The Cheesecake Factory for Failure to Provide a Reasonable Accommodation to a Deaf Employee
- Employer's Efforts in the Interactive Process Save the Day
- Train Your Supervisors Not to Ignore Accommodations Provided by Prior Supervisor
- Employee Entitled to Advance Notice of Fitness-for-Duty Requirement after FMLA Leave
December 2016
- Are You Ready for 2017? Here’s What’s Coming Down the Road
- Paid Sick Leave for Employees of Federal Contractors
- Arizona | Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act
- California | Mandatory Notice to Employees of Leave Rights
- Illinois | Employee Sick Leave Act (Public Act 99-0841)
- Wagoner v. Lewis Gale Medical Center (W.D.Va. Dec. 7, 2016)
November 2016
- Arizona - Voters Pass Prop 206, Requiring Paid Sick Leave
- Washington - Voters Approve Initiative 1433
- EEOC - EEOC Announces Strategic Enforcement Plan for FY 2017-2021
- DOL - DOL Announces New Tool, "The Medical- and Disability-Related Leave Advisor"
- Sharif v. United States (4th Cir. Oct 31, 2016)
- Notable EEOC Disability News
October 2016
- California - San Francisco Amendments to Paid Parental Leave Ordinance
- California - Mandatory Notice Obligations
- California - Two Bills Expanding CFRA Vetoed
- Berkley, California and Morristown, NJ Join the City Onslaught of Paid Sick Laws
- US House of Representatives (Pending) - Proposed Amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act
- Washington, DC (Pending) - Employment Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence
- Notable EEOC Disability News
September 2016
- Illinois Passes Child Bereavement Act
- Illinois - Employee Sick Leave Act
- Colorado - Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- California - (Pending) Notice of Rights for Possible Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking
- California - (Pending) New Parent Leave Act
- Notable EEOC Disability News
August 2016
- Paid Parental Leave in NY, San Francisco
- Minnesota - Passes Organ and Bone Marrow Donor Law
- Illinois - Passes Child Bereavement Law
- DOL - Blog Post, "What Employers Need to Know About the Family and Medical Leave Act"
- Notable EEOC Disability News
July 2016
- Illinois - Chicago Passes Paid Sick Leave
- Minnesota - St. Paul Discusses Paid Sick Leave
- Notable EEOC Disability News
June 2016
- California - State Disability Insurance Changes Go into Effect July 1,2016 and January 1, 2017
- EEOC Releases Resource Document on Leave of Absence as an Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Wisconsin - New Leave Rights for Organ Donors
- Minneapolis - City Council Passes Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance
- Reminder - Los Angeles Paid Sick Leave Ordinance
- Notable EEOC Disability News
May 2016
- California - Increase in Benefits under Paid Family Leave
- California - San Francisco Requires Paid Parental Leave
- California - Los Angeles Council Proposes Paid Sick Leave
- Department of Labor - New FMLA Employer's Guide Published
- Illinois - Chicago Mayoral Task Force Recommends Paid Sick Leave
- Notable EEOC Disability News
April 2016
- Vermont - Governor Signs Act Requiring Paid Sick Leave
- California - Santa Monica Paid Sick Leave Ordinance
- New York - Agreement for Paid Family Leave Plan
- New Jersey - Paid Family Leave Issues
- Reminder - Seattle Paid Sick Leave Rights Law
- Notable EEOC Disability News
March 2016
- Reminder - Seattle Paid Sick Leave Rights Law Goes into Effect April 1
- Vermont - Fifth State to Enact Paid Sick Leave
- Reminder - Elizabeth NJ Paid Sick Leave Became Effective March 2nd
- Notable EEOC Disability News
February 2016
- New York – New York City Expands NYCHRL
- Vermont – Paid Sick Leave Pending
- Washington - Seattle Paid Sick Leave Rights Become Effective in April
- Puerto Rico – Amended Paid Sick Leave Law Now in Effect
- Reminder! New Jersey –Elizabeth Paid Sick Leave Changes Become Effective March 2nd
- Tacoma, Washington – Paid Sick Leave Now in Effect
- Notable EEOC Disability News
January 2016
- ADA Accommodations: Am I Done Yet?
- Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh Paid Sick Leave Ordinance Deemed Unenforceable
- Washington – Seattle Significantly Amends Paid Sick Leave Rights
- Reminder! Tacoma, Washington – Paid Sick Leave Rules In Effect Soon
- Oregon – Statewide Paid Sick Now in Effect
- New Jersey– State Senate Passes Statewide Paid Sick Leave
- Notable EEOC Disability News
- Notable Case: The importance of employer documentation of the termination process
November 2015
- California – Amendments to 3 leave‐related laws go into effect in 2016; 2 others vetoed
- Bellingham, WA Considers Paid Sick Leave
- Elizabeth, NJ Passes Paid Sick Leave
- Pittsburgh, PA Passes Paid Sick Leave
- Notable EEOC Disability News
- Notable Case: FMLA? No, no, no! The employee does NOT get to choose!
October 2015
- California – Governor May Sign Legislation Impacting Leave
- Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh Paid Sick Leave Ordinance Being Challenged
- Michigan – Ballot Initiative to Require Statewide Paid Sick Leave
- Louisiana – New Orleans Ordinance Impacts Leave
- Arkansas – Fayetteville Enacts Ordinance 5781
- Notable EEOC Disability News
- Notable Case: A federal appellate court rules that the FMLA is specifically designed to afford low-wage employees temporary protection
September 2015
- Announcing our new blog - Matrix‐Radar.com
- Colorado - Parental School Involvement Leave Expires
- Executive Order May Impact Federal Contractors
- Tacoma, Washington – Paid Sick Leave Rules Have Been Finalized in August
- Vermont – State Senate to Consider H.187 in January
- Rhode Island – Expanding Leave for Pregnant and Nursing Mothers Effective
October 22nd
- Wisconsin – One Day of Rest in Seven
- Notable EEOC Disability News
- Notable Case: With proper showing, employer can deny accommodations and
terminate employee for inability to perform essential functions
August 2015
- California – New Law Provides Greater Protections for Employees Seeking Accommodations for Disability or Religion
- Rhode Island – Expands Protections for Pregnant and Nursing Employees
- Maryland – Montgomery County Mandates Sick Leave
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Council Passes City‐Wide Sick Leave Ordinance
- California – Emeryville Passes Sick Leave Ordinance
- Notable EEOC Disability News
- Notable Case: Employer’s failure to allow employee sufficient time to submit FMLA certification results in lawsuit
July 2015
- Supreme Court Decides Obergefell v. Hodges ‐ Same‐Sex Marriages Legal in All States
- California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act Effective July 2015
- Massachusetts – Attorney General Announces New Sick Time Regulations
- Oregon – Oregon Enacts Paid Sick Time Statewide
- California – Emeryville Passes Sick Leave Ordinance
- Notable EEOC Disability News
- Notable Cases: Parks v. UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Inc.; DOL crackdown on FMLA violations results in $275,000 consent decree for Staples employee
June 2015
- Philadelphia, PA – Paid Sick Leave Bill Now in Effect; PA Senate Responds
- Massachusetts – Attorney General Announces Safe Harbor Notice for Earned Sick Time Law
- Florida – Florida Civil Rights Act Amended
- Vermont – House Bill 187 - The Healthy Workplaces bill
- Bloomfield, New Jersey – Paid Sick Leave Ordinance to Take Effect
May 2015
- Same‐Sex Marriage Update: Supreme Court Decision Could Have Significant Impact on Employers
- California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act Effective July 2015
- Philadelphia, PA – Paid Sick Leave Bill to Go into Effect This Month
- Florida – Proposed Legislation to State Civil Rights’ Act
- New York, New York – Companies are Fined for Violating Paid Sick Leave Rights
- Oregon – Paid Sick Time May Become Effective Statewide
- New Jersey – Workers’ Compensation May See Changes
- DMEC Spring Compliance Conference
- Notable EEOC Disability News
- Notable Case: DOL Wage and Hour Division ‐ FedEx Ground
April 2015
-
Status of FMLA Leave Related to an Employee’s Same‐Sex Spouse
-
Changes to the California Family Rights Act Coming July 1, 2015
-
Reminder! Massachusetts – Parental Leave Bill Going Into Effect This Month
-
Reminder! Philadelphia – Paid Sick Leave Bill to Go into Effect Soon
- Reminder! Washington, D.C. – Protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Now in Effect
- Arkansas – Proposed Legislation to Increase Maternity Leave/Benefits
- Michigan – Paid Sick Leave Proposals in House and Senate
- Minnesota – Legislature Considers Working Parents Act
- Notable EEOC Disability News
- Notable Case: Young v. United Parcel Service, Inc.
March 2015
- Matrix Absence Management Welcomes our New Vice President of Compliance
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Mayor Signs Paid Sick Leave Bill
- DOL – Final Rule Defining Spouse under the FMLA
- Next Month! Massachusetts – Parental Leave Bill Going Into Effect
- Reminder! Oakland – Paid Sick Leave Ordinance in Effect March 2nd
- Notable EEOC Disability News
February 2015
- Massachusetts – Parental Leave Bill Signed
- President Provides Greater Sick Leave for Federal Employees
- President Encourages Sick Leave Legislation in State of the Union Address
- Plan Ahead: Oakland, California – Paid Sick Leave Ordinance in Effect March 2nd
- California: Forms Reminder
- Notable EEOC Disability News
January 2015
- Reminder! Big Changes in New Jersey as Sick Leave Law Becomes Effective for Four
Municipalities in January 2015. Passaic, East Orange, Irvington, and Paterson each now have mandated sick leave requirements for employers.
- Arkansas – Special Election in Fayetteville Results in Repeal of Civil Rights Ordinance
- Reminder! Illinois – Human Rights Act Now in Effect!
- Reminder! Amendments to Connecticut Paid Sick Leave Act of 2012 Now in Effect
- Washington, D.C. – Protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2014
- Delaware – State Persons with Disabilities Employment Protection Act Amended
- Oregon – Temporary Administrative Rule Provides Expansion of Sick Child Leave to Care for Adult Children
- Oakland – Paid Sick Leave Ordinance in Effect March 2nd
- Plan Ahead – California and Massachusetts Paid Sick Leave Laws Effective July 2015
- Eugene, Oregon – Sick Leave Ordinance Effective in July
December 2014
- Arkansas – Special Election in Fayetteville May Impact Local Employers
- Reminder! New Jersey – Sick Leave Law Becomes Effective for Four Municipalities in January 2015
- Reminder! Illinois – Human Rights Act Become Effective on January 1st
- Reminder! Amendments to Connecticut Paid Sick Leave Act of 2012 Become Effective Jan. 1st
- Notable EEOC Disability News
- Notable Cases
November 2014
- Massachusetts Voters Approve Sick Leave Act
- San Diego, California – Local Sick Leave Law on Hold
- New Jersey – More Cities to Provide Sick Leave Law
- California – Oakland Passes Sick Leave law
- Iowa – Veteran’s Day
- Puerto Rico – Amendments to Sick Leave Law Now Effective
- Notable EEOC Disability News
October 2014 - An Examination of Recent FMLA Rulings Regarding Notice Requirements under the FMLA
October 2014
- District of Columbia Sick and Safe Leave Acts Amendments in Effect
- Reminder! Maryland Parental Leave Law Effective October 1st
- Illinois – Human Rights Act Amended
- California – Joins Connecticut in Requiring State‐wide Sick Leave Mandates
- Michigan – Voting Leave Act Proposed
- Louisiana – Sick Leave Implications for Educators
- New Jersey: More Cities Enacting Paid Sick Leave Laws
- New York – Earned Sick Time Act Clarified
- Philadelphia, PA – Reasonable Accommodations Required for Breastfeeding
- Reminder! FMLA Certifications
- Notable EEOC Disability News
September 2014
- Massachusetts – Domestic Violence Leave Law Now in Effect
- Eugene, Oregon – Sick Leave Ordinance Passes
- San Diego, California – City Council Overrides Mayor’s Veto of Sick Leave Ordinance
- Louisiana – District Court Judge Upholds Gay Marriage Ban
- Reminder! Maryland Parental Leave Law to Take Effect October 1st
- Notable EEOC Disability News
August 2014
- Hawaii Provides Leave for Organ, Bone Marrow, or Stem Cell Donors
- San Diego, California – New Paid Leave Requirement
- Allegheny County, Pennsylvania – Same‐Sex Marriage Benefits Extended
- EEOC Guidance on Pregnancy Discrimination
- President Obama – Executive Order
- Reminder! Maryland Parental Leave Law to Take Effect October 1st
- Reminder! Minnesota Employees Have a Right to Jury Trial under Minnesota Human Rights Act
- Notable Cases and EEOC Disability News
July 2014
- California Expands Definition of Family Beginning July 1st
- Connecticut Paid Sick Leave Amendment Law Signed
- DOL Provides Notice of Proposed Rule Change to Define Spouse for FMLA Regulations
- Reminder! Maryland Parental Leave Law to Take Effect October 1st
- Minnesota Employees Will Have a Right to Jury Trial under Minnesota Human Rights Act
- Illinois to Expand Protection for Pregnancy and Childbirth Leave
- California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act
- Notable Cases and EEOC Disability News
June 2014
- Women’s Economic Security Act to take Effect in Minnesota
- Oklahoma Law Curbs Municipal Power to Grant Employee Leave
- Leave Law Changes in Oregon in 2015?
- Maryland Parental Leave Law to Take Effect October 1st
- Vermont Legislature Declines to Enact State Leave Law
- Puerto Rico: Clarifying Law 44
- Short‐Time Compensation Program Beginning in Ohio
- Notable Cases and EEOC Disability News
April 2014
- Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act Proposed in House
- Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance Amended
- New York City Expansion of Earned Sick Leave Act Now in Effect
- Elections – Plan ahead to be in Compliance with Time‐Off to Vote Laws
- Newark, NJ Ordinance to Go Into Effect Next Month
- Notable Cases
March 2014
- Newark, N.J. – Sick Leave Ordinance May Be Coming Soon
- District of Columbia – Amendments to the Accrued Sick Leave Act of 2008 to Take Effect
- Possible Changes to the New York City Sick Leave Act
- Montana –Montana Supreme Court Rules That Employers May Modify Sick Leave Bank
- DOL to Propose New Definition of “Spouse” For FMLA Purposes
- Notable Cases
February 2014
- Vermont – Flexible Work Requirements Now in Effect
- New York City – Pregnancy Accommodations Now Required
- Jersey City Earned Sick Time Leave Ordinance Takes Effect
- Portland – Protected Sick Time Ordinance Now in Effect
- Same Sex Marriage Update
- Time Off for Snow Days
- IRS Notice 2014-1
- Connecticut Grocery Chain Settles with EEOC
- Notable Cases
January 2014
- California - New Law May Have Long-Term Implications for Employers
- California – S.B. 400 Extends Job Protection to Victims of Stalking
- California – Senate Bill 288 Extends Job Protection to Victims of Crime
- Oregon – New Bereavement Leave Policy Impacts Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA)
- Rhode Island – Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program
- Connecticut – 2014 Report of Task Force Study
- Proposed Federal Legislation
- New Definition of Spouse under FMLA Expected from DOL
- Same Sex Marriage Update
- EEOC to Become More Active Against Disability-Based Discrimination
- 2014 Summary of Statutory Disability Plans