abalelconfI admit it. Misleading headline.

It won’t be EVERYTHING else. But….there were a few other nuggets from the ABA Labor & Employment Annual Conference last week that are worth sharing. For prior posts on the subject, go here and here.

  • At one of the programs, an EEOC attorney suggested that no re-hire clauses in separation agreements may be unlawful. Philip Miles — who I co-presented with at one of the conference programs — has a full recap on his site but the gist is that such a position is unsupported. As Philip posted, “The EEOC attorney’s position was not well-received at the conference, and she acknowledged that zero case law supports the position. One audience member “politely” suggested that if they couldn’t find a single court to side with them in 50+ years, perhaps it was time to move on. The EEOC attorney responded that the agency often seeks to move the law and alter the status quo.”
  • At a program on wellness plans, the speakers highlighted a new development this month — proposed regulations from the EEOC to encompass such plans. As Jon Hyman recapped on his blog, “[T]he EEOC announced that it plans to amend its regulations to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act to permit employees to provide health information about their spouses in exchange for certain financial and other incentives as part of employer wellness programs.”  Employers who use these plans should be particularly mindful that new regulations are on their way.
  • The Wall Street Journal finally got around to writing about the delays in overtime regulation revisions — days after I first reported it. NBC News also picked up on it and quoted me.
  • The EEOC is also in the news for its continuing press on systematic cases. EEOC Chair Jenny Yang said at the conference that the agency had been “transformed” with, as Bloomberg BNA reports, “markedly more agency investigations and litigation aimed at employer policies and practices that operate on a company-wide, industry-wide or nationwide basis.”
  • dinicsThe FMLA continues to be a challenge for employers to enforce properly. At one session, speaker Jeff Novak gave a helpful tip when you outsource FMLA to a 3rd party administrator. Look at their forms to ensure they comply with DOL regs.
  • And finally, Reading Terminal Market has to be one of the best food sites in the country. I would highly recommend getting the roast pork sandwich at DiNic’s. It may not be kosher, but it’s definitely a treat. Don’t forget to add some sharp provolone and broccoli rabe to it. Delish.