Archive for the ‘Christine Nentwig’ Category

On March 18, 2020, Congress passed the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” which provides free COVID-19 testing, increases Medicaid funding, and expands food security initiatives and support for those impacted by the COVID-19 public emergency.  The law also provides paid leave and enhances access to unemployment insurance for employees. The key provisions impacting employers are summarized below.   Emergency Paid Sick Leave ActThe section of the law entitled “Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act,” requires employers to provide employees with paid sick leave for absences related to COVID-19 until December 31, 2020. Covered Employers: Defined as private employers with fewer than 500 employees and government… read more »

Article by: Attorney Christine Nentwig It has become increasingly common to see people accompanied by service or assistance animals in public places, including restaurants, shopping malls and airports.  Most service or assistance animals and the disabled individuals they serve are subject to broad protections with respect to both access to public places and housing under several federal (and many state) statutes. Service Animals and the Law The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies only to service dogs (and in some cases miniature horses) who have been trained to perform specific work or tasks for disabled persons.  The provision of emotional support, comfort,… read more »

Tuesday, November 12, 2019, 8:30 am – 1:00 p.m. Country Club of York, 1400 Country Club Road, York, PA 17403 Please join attorneys Zachary Nahass and Christine Nentwig (Co-Chairs of Labor and Employment Law at CGA Law Firm) and Amy Lafko of Cairn Consulting. Solutions for a valuable and productive leadership seminar.This half day seminar will cover leadership techniques related to hiring, retention, and performance management that will build a culture of success and keep you compliant and out of the courtroom. The seminar will also feature a panel discussion with: Andrew Paxton , President and General Counsel, United Fiber & Data Pamela Funk , Director of Human Resources,… read more »

Article from the October 2019 Issue of the Pennsylvania Observer “So a man and a dog walk into a bar … ” What might sound to some like the start of an old­fashioned bar joke is no laughing matter for those with disabilities or the businesses required to accommodate them. Assistance animals are becoming increasingly common and may be referred to by varying terms, such as service animals, therapy animals, and emotional support animals. The extent to which assistance animals are protected legally varies depending upon the animal’s purpose, species and training. Unfortunately, navigating these legal protections can be challenging,… read more »

Article by: Christine E. Nentwig, Esquire As many of you likely recall, following a Ninth Circuit decision in 2014 (Escriba v. Foster Poultry Farms, Inc.), there was a question regarding whether an employee could choose to decline designation of a leave as FMLA, even if the leave was otherwise clearly qualifying. In that case, the court held that an employee could decline to use FMLA leave for qualifying time off. While in that case the holding was a “win” for the employer (since the case centered on the employee’s claim that even if she asked the employer not to designate… read more »

Article by: Christine Nentwig Late yesterday we learned that a federal court judge in Texas issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocks implementation and enforcement of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) revised overtime regulations, which more than doubled the salary threshold for white collar exemptions and were set to take effect December 1, 2016. This is a welcome reprieve for employers struggling with implementing any necessary changes, but may present complications for those who have already set the wheels of compliance in motion.  First, it is important to remember that the injunction is temporary – not permanent – and so… read more »

We have been getting a number of calls from clients asking what impact last week’s election results will have on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) overtime regulations scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2016 – and more importantly, whether employers can now take a “wait and see” approach to the regulations and assume that the new Republican administration and Congress will act to overturn and stop the regulations from taking effect. As most employers are aware, the Final Rule updating the overtime regulations alters the salary and compensation levels needed for Executive, Administrative and Professional workers to be exempt… read more »