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John W. Sheffield

Justin A. Barkley

JOHNSTON BARTON PROCTOR & ROSE, 

LLP

Alabama Nursing

Home Association

January 9, 2013

Birmingham, Alabama

TOP 10 TOP 10 EmploymentEmploymentLaw Updates Law Updates for Nursing for Nursing HomesHomes

1.1. Health Care ReformHealth Care Reform

Health Care ReformHealth Care Reform Employers of more than 50 full-time employees required to provide affordable coverage to full-time employees

New regulations (Dec. 2012) from g ( )IRS make clear the threshold is 50 FTEs

Full‐time = 30 hours

Affordable = no more than 9.5% of employee’s household income

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Dependent CoverageDependent Coverage

Employers must offer coverage to “dependents” 26 years of age or under

But not “spouses” But not spouses

Dependent coverage need not be “affordable”

beginning Jan 2015

2.2. ImmigrationImmigration

Alabama’s Alabama’s New New 

Immigration Immigration LawLaw

‐ Amendment

‐ Provisions invalidates

‐ Provisions enforced

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EE--VERIFYVERIFY

• Internet based system that electronically confirms information on I‐9 forms

• Verifies employment eligibility of new hiresp y g y

• Free service; began as a voluntary pilot program

• Partnership between DHS and SSA

• Does not replace I‐9s; works in conjunction

EE‐‐Verify Dos and Don’tsVerify Dos and Don’ts

• Only for new hires (unless federal contractor with specific language in your contract)

• Must enter I‐9 information into e‐verify within 3 days of start of employment

• Cannot pre‐screen applicants• Must use for all new employees• Cannot use to “re‐verify”• Must give employees opportunity to 

respond to nonconfirmation• Can take adverse action only after a final 

nonverification is issued

3.3. Workplace ViolenceWorkplace Violence

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Workplace ViolenceWorkplace Violence

‐ Statistics from SHRM Study

‐ Best Practices – Policies & Prevention‐ Background ChecksBackground Checks‐ Reporting Mechanisms and 

Communication‐ Response: No Tolerance

44.. OSHAOSHA

OSHAOSHA• Targeted Enforcement: Nursing Homes

Announced 3 year National Enforcement Program (“NEP”) targeting nursing homes- High incidence of workplace injuries

E t bl d d i f ti t i l

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/nursinghome/index.html

- Exposure to blood and infectious materials- Communicable diseases- Lifting residents- Slips, trips and falls- Drugs and hazardous chemicals- Specific information on nursing home

standards:

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55.. Union OrganizingUnion Organizing

Union OrganizingUnion Organizing

• Specialty Healthcare

– “micro-unions”

UFCW v Lakeland• UFCW v. Lakeland Healthcare Associates, LLC– LPNs as

supervisors

6.6. Wage & HourWage & Hour

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Wage & Hour Issues Wage & Hour Issues in Nursing Homesin Nursing Homes

Cases & Settlements

off-the-clock (in-services, pre- and post- shift activities, automatic lunch deductions))

regular rate of pay

misclassification.

RN – professional exemption

LPN – must meet supervisory or administrative exemption

77.. Protected ActivityProtected Activity

NLRB and Social MediaNLRB and Social Media

• Costco Wholesale Corp.

• Hispanics United of Buffalo

• Flex Frac Logisticsg

• TT & W Farm Products

• Knauz BMW

• Focus on Policies

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88.. EEOCEEOC

NEW STRATEGIC INITIATIVE Systemic DiscriminationFocus on “systemic” cases with multiple plaintiffs or a class of plaintiffs

U i di id l h d t b ild “ t i ”Use individual charges and cases to build “systemic” cases

EEOC not required to go through normal class certification procedures to assert claims on behalf of a class

“Commissioner’s charges” – not require an individual charging party

EEOC OpinionsEEOC OpinionsEmployer use of arrest & conviction records may create adverse impact Arrest v. Conviction Time limits Job related

Requiring High School Diploma may violate ADA Could screen out those with learning disabilities Job related and consistent with business necessity

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EEOC EEOC –– Pushing the EnvelopePushing the Envelope

• Transgender Discrimination

– Commissioners’ Opinion: Transgender discrimination as a form of gender discrimination under Title VII

– Hopkins v. Price WaterhouseHopkins v. Price Waterhouse

• Not conforming to gender stereotypes

• Domestic Violence Discrimination

– Concerns of workplace violence

– Mental/psychological effects of domestic abuse as a potential disability

– Gender stereotyping

9.9. ADA/GINAADA/GINA

Disability claims jumped nearly 20% from 2009 to 2011 (21,451 to 25,742)

EEOC Relief awards under ADA up 36% last year 

First GINA charges filed in 2010 (210), a 

ADA/GINAADA/GINA

few more in 2011 (245)

New legislation driving trends

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10.10.RetaliationRetaliation

RetaliationRetaliation Increasing numbers of lawsuits and EEOC charges assert 

retaliation claims

Largest verdicts often include retaliation claims

Jurors return plaintiff’s verdicts more often on retaliation claims

Charges of retaliation (36 3%) surpassed charges of race Charges of retaliation (36.3%) surpassed charges of race discrimination (35.9%) for first time in 2009, trend continues

Should be addresses with supervisors whenever an incumbent employee files an EEOC charge or makes a complaint

Can turn a frivolous discrimination/harassment claim into a more difficult to defend retaliation claim

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?Contact us:

John W. Sheffieldjws@johnstonbarton.com205-458-9481

Justin A. Barkleyjab@johnstonbarton.comj j205-458-9457

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