Earlier this spring, the Office of the Ohio Secretary of State (SOS), in partnership with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce announced an initiative to assist Ohio small businesses with protecting themselves from becoming victims of cyber threats and data breaches. As part of this initiative a Cybersecurity for Small Business booklet has been made available…
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Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: What Employers Should Know about Finalized Rules
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) went into effect on June 27, 2023. Applicable to all employers with at least 15 employees, it requires employers to offer reasonable accommodations to workers’ known limitations related to a pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition. The only exception to this requirement lies where an employer can demonstrate…
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Why Small Business Owners Should Work with a Business Law Attorney
If you are a small business owner or thinking about starting a new business, at some point you have probably wondered whether it is worth the time and money to consult a business attorney. The answer to that question is “yes”. As Benjamin Franklin famously stated, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of…
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Ohio Child Labor Laws: What Ohio Small Businesses Need to Know about Teen Employment Requirements This Summer
Summer is just around the corner and many small businesses are looking forward to the extra help provided by Ohio teenagers. However, before employers start thinking about hiring those young hands, it is a good idea to brush up on Minor Labor Laws. The employment of minors is governed by both the Child Labor Provisions…
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Senate Bill No. 2249: New Law Promotes Economic Opportunities for New Jersey’s Disabled Veteran Business Owners
On January 16, 2024, Senate Bill No. 2249 (S2249) was signed into law. With the goal of providing better support to New Jersey’s disabled veteran community, the bill reduces the number of qualified disabled veterans’ businesses required to set aside a contract under the “Set-Aside Act for Disabled Veterans’ Businesses” from three to two. Recognizing…
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How To Choose the Right Insurance for Your Small Business
We often have clients ask about what kind of insurance they need – often the answer is that they must speak with a trusted business insurance company. Please enjoy this special “guest post” from Gonzalez Insurance! According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20% of businesses that opened in 2021 were not…
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Good News for Telemedicine and Telehealth Providers: Pay Parity Extended for One Year
On December 21, 2023, Assembly Bill No. 5757 was signed into law. The legislation extends payment parity for telehealth services and ensures continued access to crucial remote healthcare services for New Jersey residents, including those who face barriers to obtaining in-person care. Specifically, the legislation requires that health benefits plans reimburse providers for telehealth and…
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Mental Health Access Improvement Act: MFTs and LPCs May Now Enroll to be Medicare Providers
The Mental Health Access Improvement Act (S.828/H.R.432) which was signed into law on December 23, 2022, is finally being implemented. As of January 1, 2024, Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) and Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) can sign up as Medicare providers, which they were not previously allowed to do. Not only is this great news…
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The Freelance Isn’t Free Act: New York Commits to State-Wide Protection of Independent Workers
Just before Thanksgiving, Governor Hochul signed Senate Bill S5026 into law; giving freelance workers throughout the state of New York a reason to be thankful. Better known as the “Freelance Isn’t Free” Act, the new legislation replicates basic labor protections that have exited in New York City since May 2017, thereby expanding those protections to…