Client Alerts
- November 1, 2011The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have launched a new program to permit employers that have classified workers as independent contractors to switch the classification to employee through a low-cost settlement program. The IRS will allow employers to change past worker classification issues by making a minimal payment and avoid substantial payroll tax obligations for prior years that would be assessed by the IRS under an audit.October 25, 2011The Internal Revenue Service has recently announced cost-of-living adjustments applicable to dollar limitations for retirement plans (and other items) for 2012. Many of the retirement plan limitations will change for 2012 because the increase in the cost-of-living index met the statutory thresholds that trigger their adjustment. In many cases, this is the first time in three years the limitations have changed.October 21, 2011October 19, 2011After five years of pendency, Congress passed free trade agreements for Panama, Columbia, and South Korea. These free trade agreements (FTA) greatly open up markets for companies based in all three countries. This Client Alert focuses on the Korea and United States Free Trade Agreement and its likely impact on international business between these two nations.October 18, 2011The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have launched a new program to permit employers that have classified workers as independent contractors to switch the classification to employee through a low-cost settlement program. The IRS will allow employers to change past worker classification issues by making a minimal payment and avoid substantial payroll tax obligations for prior years that would be assessed by the IRS under an audit.October 6, 2011The National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB" or "Board") recently announced that it has postponed the implementation date of its new notice-posting requirement from November 14, 2011 to January 31, 2012. The notice-posting requirement is part of a rule that requires employers to take measures to advise employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.October 1, 2011
Overview of the New Law
The Michigan legislature approved a bill imposing a 1% tax on certain paid health care claims, for health care services and items beginning on or after January 1, 2012. Governor Snyder is expected to soon sign the bill into law. The tax is capped at $10,000 per individual per year, and expires January 1, 2014. The tax would apply to claims paid by an employer-sponsored group health plan, group and individual health insurance companies, stop loss insurers, and third party administrators of self-insured health plans, with limited exceptions. Insurers and third party administrators are permitted to pass along the associated tax to their employer-sponsored health plan clients.
September 30, 2011Change is Coming
Change is coming to domain name registrations and it could affect you. The international group that has assigned domain names for many years now, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has created a new .xxx domain. This is the result of many years of discussion on how to segregate and distinguish adult-oriented websites from all others. Scheduled for implementation in December 2011, the .xxx domain registration means that the owner of a domain name that also is a registered trademark such as trademark.com can be associated with a new domain name trademark.xxx without any awareness, permission, or consent. Potential XXX domain registrants see obvious opportunity in being associated with familiar and famous domain names that are also registered trademarks. Needless to say, this pending change and closing deadline has given trademark and service mark owners reason to worry that their goodwill and brand recognition may be associated with adult websites. Thankfully, mark owners can take action to prevent this association.
September 20, 2011On August 25, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) promulgated a new rule requiring nearly all private-sector employers within the NLRB’s jurisdiction, regardless of whether or not their workforces are unionized, to post a notice informing employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.September 16, 2011September 9, 2011Overview of the New Law
The Michigan legislature approved a bill imposing a 1% tax on certain paid health care claims, for health care services and items beginning on or after January 1, 2012. Governor Snyder is expected to soon sign the bill into law. The tax is capped at $10,000 per individual per year, and expires January 1, 2014. The tax would apply to claims paid by an employer-sponsored group health plan, group and individual health insurance companies, stop loss insurers, and third party administrators of self-insured health plans, with limited exceptions. Insurers and third party administrators are permitted to pass along the associated tax to their employer-sponsored health plan clients.
September 1, 2011For many employers, the NLRB's enforcement actions have created uncertainty when dealing with a decision to discipline or discharge an employee for inappropriate social media postings. ; A recent survey by the United States Chamber of Commerce indicates that more than 129 cases involving social media have been reviewed by the NLRB. ; Although few have been litigated so far, these cases make it clear that employers need to tread very carefully while disciplining employees for their social media posts. ; Even more troubling is the ability to draft social media policies that can survive the NLRB’s scrutiny. ; Recently, the NLRB's Division of Advice shed some light on the line between protected and unprotected activity in the context of social media by providing examples of unprotected conducted – at least in its view. ; This Client Alert highlights the NLRB's perspective on social media.September 1, 2011Through Butzel Long’s involvement with the Wage and Hour Defense Institute, the WHDI's annually updated State-by-State Wage and Hour Law Summary is now available to our clients. The Wage and Hour Defense Institute is comprised of highly talented and experienced wage and hour defense attorneys from 21 law firms across the nation. The WHDI serves as a nationwide network and meeting ground for top-tier practitioners to engage in professional development in what has become a highly nuanced area of the law, and also to become an established resource for employers on wage and hour matters. Each member was selected for membership in the WHDI based on his or her individual skills and experience representing management in the defense of wage and hour litigation. Butzel Long is proud to be one of the founding firms of the WHDI. Both Robert Boonin and Rebecca Davies are WHDI members, and Rob currently serves as its Chair-Elect. This summary of state wage and hour laws should serve as a valuable desktop resource for human resource professionals, particularly for employers with employees in multiple states.August 31, 2011The Michigan Youth Employment workplace poster has been updated. This is a required posting for any Michigan employer with minor employees; so any such employer must replace their current poster with the updated version. Nevertheless, because many employers who do not see themselves as users of child labor do end up employing minors from time to time, we suggest that all employers post the Youth Employment poster, even if they do not currently employ any minors.August 26, 2011Yesterday the National Labor Relations Board announced that as of November 14, 2011, employers across the country will be required to inform their employees that they have the right to unionize. Under its newly promulgated rule, virtually all private sector employers—both unionized and non-unionized—that are subject to the National Labor Relations Act will have to post notices and take other measures advising their employees of their rights under the Act. An employer that fails to comply with this new rule may be charged with engaging in an unfair labor practice under the NLRA.August 26, 2011In an August 24, 2011 decision (Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association v. Gannett Co., Inc., Case No. 10-2627), the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that the Wisconsin association overseeing high school sports ("WIAA") can limit who streams its games live on the Internet. The court held that the WIAA has the right to enter into exclusive contracts for live streaming of its events, and that the First Amendment does not entitle other media to claim the same broadcasting rights without paying for them. The decision could have First Amendment implications for media outlets nationwide.August 19, 2011AN OVERVIEW OF THE RECENT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS RULING IN UNITED STATES V. SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS
Last December, amid holiday preparations and plans, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit decided a case that could potentially affect every federal contractor. The ruling affirmatively applies the “implied certification” rule giving federal contractors another serious complication in the government contracting process, with no clear or uniform standards on the specific issue. It highlights the importance of federal contractors having robust, effective contractor compliance systems to minimize the risk of severe penalties. The case is United States v. Science Applications International Corporation, 626 F.3d 1257 (D.C. Cir. 2010), and its holding has created a great deal of buzz within the government contracting community. It spread anything but holiday cheer.
August 15, 2011For many employers, the NLRB's enforcement actions have created uncertainty when dealing with a decision to discipline or discharge an employee for inappropriate social media postings. ; A recent survey by the United States Chamber of Commerce indicates that more than 129 cases involving social media have been reviewed by the NLRB. ; Although few have been litigated so far, these cases make it clear that employers need to tread very carefully while disciplining employees for their social media posts. ; Even more troubling is the ability to draft social media policies that can survive the NLRB’s scrutiny. ; Recently, the NLRB's Division of Advice shed some light on the line between protected and unprotected activity in the context of social media by providing examples of unprotected conducted – at least in its view. ; This Client Alert highlights the NLRB's perspective on social media.August 9, 2011Jump to PageIn a significant change in Michigan sexual harassment law, on July 29, 2011 the Michigan Supreme Court issued a 4-3 decision in Hamed v. Wayne County et al., which overruled its 1996 decision of Champion v. Nation Wide Security Inc. Champion had imposed strict liability on employers under Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) for the intentional, criminal sexual acts of its employees. In Hamed, the Court expressly overruled Champion and changed law which had been in place for the last 15 years. Hamed holds that an employer's liability for criminal acts of an employee under the ELCRA is now limited to those acts the employer could have reasonably foreseen.August 3, 2011The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"), which became effective on July 21, 2011, affects any person (including an employer) that uses credit scores to take an adverse action against a consumer. ; These amendments potentially expand an employer's notice requirement obligations.