DOL Issues Final Rule Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors – Are You Ready? By Debbi Cohen

Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published its Final Rule to implement Executive Order (E.O.) 13706, which was signed by President Obama on Labor Day 2015, establishing paid sick leave for Federal Contractors. In short, the Rule will apply to “covered contracts” – defined broadly and with limited exceptions in the Rule – which are newly solicited, awarded outside the solicitation process, renewed, extended, or amended on or after January 1, 2017, and it requires parties that enter into covered contracts with the Federal Government to provide “covered employees” – again, there are limited exclusions, including a temporary exclusion for employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement – with up to 7 days (56 hours) of paid sick leave annually.
Even for those Federal Contractors that already offer paid time off to their existing workforces, now would be a good time to review your policies and procedures to ensure they satisfy the requirements of the E.O. and Final Rule. In addition to specific requirements related to leave accrual rates, certification and use, there are carryover provisions and other stringent administrative obligations, recordkeeping, contract clause and notice requirements, and anti-retaliation prohibitions. For compliance assistance, consult counsel.

Debbi Cohen is Counsel to Benton Potter & Murdock, P.C.

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Barbara L. Johnson to speak at 2016 Minority In-House Counsel Association Conference

Barbara L. Johnson, Counsel with Benton, Potter & Murdock has been invited to speak about Going Global: Developing International Expertise at the 2016 Minority In-House Counsel Association Conference. The Conference will be held on October 25-26 at the Metropolitan Club in Chicago, Illinois. This conference is designed to capture the variety and experience of minority in-house and corporate counsel. The conference will feature a luncheon presentation by Paula Boggs and N. Cornell Boggs, III, who will discuss “What Do I Need to Start Feeding My Kids Now to Make GCs Out of Them,” as well as presentations by other general counsel from around the country. Benton, Potter & Murdock is pleased to be a sponsor of the 2016 MIHCA Conference. If you are interested in attending or sponsoring this event, you may contact Robert. Johnson@MyMIHCA.org.

Ms. Johnson has more than 25 years of experience in representing employers in employment law matters and has tried more than 30 employment law cases. She is a member of the bars of the United States Supreme Court, the District of Columbia, Texas, and Michigan. She is admitted to practice before the: District Court for the District of Columbia; Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; and Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western District of Texas. She is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor and Employment Law, and serves as President, National Employment Law Council, and Chair, the Employment Law Committee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. She is a member of the: American Bar Association’s College of Labor & Employment Lawyers; Texas College of Labor & Employment Lawyers; National Bar Association; International Association of Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute; and Litigation Counsel of America. She is listed in the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, and has been recognized by Washington DC Super Lawyers. Ms. Johnson can be reached at: blj@bpmlawyers.com; 571-356-9007.