By: Cristina N. Hyde, JD As workers begin to emerge from their homes and return to their offices, it is important to recognize that a certain level of additional stress is inevitable thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and the way it has changed the work environment and personal interactions. Even prior to the pandemic, recent…
Category Archives: Business
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Case Law Alert: New Jersey Courts Address Issues Raised By Employee Use Of Marijuana
By: Cristina N. Hyde, JD As the effects of New Jersey’s recent personal use cannabis legalization begin to percolate throughout the state, it is imperative that employers ensure that their practices and policies fairly recognize this evolving area of law. When Governor Murphy signed cannabis reform into law last February, employers were already struggling to…
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Gina Campanella is a Featured Guest on The Difference Makers LinkedIn Live
Last month, our Principal Attorney, Gina L. Campanella, Esq. FACHE was a featured guest on The Difference Makers on LinkedIn Live! The Host, Jacqueline Grant, welcomed Gina to discuss Legal “Minefields” to Watch out for in 2021 & Beyond”. Watch the episode on YouTube right here! Get motivation and Inspiration from those making a difference…
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Mental Health Matters: Does your business have a workplace health promotion program?
By: Cristina N. Hyde, JD With mental health awareness month just around the corner, if you have not already begun to think about action steps to support your employees, it is time to start that conversation. The last twelve months were arguably the most stressful months that most of us will see in our lifetime. …
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New Jersey Division of Civil Rights introduces amendments to Family Leave Act
By: Cristina N. Hyde, JD With several of the current rules enforcing New Jersey’s Family Leave Act (NJFLA) set to expire this July, the Division of Civil Rights (DCR) recently announced proposed rules that would broaden family leave protection and build-in the re-adoption of important provisions from 2014, 2019 and 2020, before they lapse. Published…
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P.L. 2021, c. 16, 19 & 25: With the swipe of a pen, Governor Murphy ushers in a new chapter for a legal weed industry in NJ and closes the book on certain criminal penalties
By: Cristina N. Hyde, JD Earlier this week, New Jersey joined a dozen other states in legalizing marijuana for recreational use when Governor Murphy signed three new bills into law. Altogether, the new legislation concerns the legalization and decriminalization of adult use cannabis. The bills allow for purchase and sale at state-licensed dispensaries and ease…
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Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals: Navigating accommodation requests under the Fair Housing Act.
By: Cristina N. Hyde, JD Last winter, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released updated guidance to clarify housing providers’ obligations under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) when asked to accommodate an animal intended to provide assistance with a disability. There are two types of animals that fit this description: service…
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EEOC Guidance Update: Employers can require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
By Cristina N. Hyde, J.D. Last month the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released guidance stating that employers can require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Knowing that the vaccine’s arrival would raise questions related to the applicability of various Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws, the EEOC guidance states very clearly that EEO laws “do…
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NY Permanent Paid Sick Leave Reminder: Employees may now begin to use accrued leave
By: Cristina N. Hyde, JD Last April, New York State took steps to permanently bolster existing paid leave laws in recognition of the crises caused by COVID-19 and in anticipation of future public health emergencies. Senate Bill S7506B, which took effect on September 30, 2020, included modifications to New York’s Labor Law; establishing specific leave…
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Assembly Bill No. 21: The New Year brings New Jersey new rules for marijuana use and possession.
By: Cristina N. Hyde, JD After New Jersey’s citizens approved a constitutional amendment legalizing the adult use of cannabis last November, attention shifted to the state legislature to create enabling regulations in order to implement the referendum. The legislation, known as the “NJ Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act“ was passed by both…