On July 8, 2020, by a vote of 7-2, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in their Little Sisters of the Poor decision upheld Trump administration rules permitting employers to decline contraceptive coverage (including preventative health services, birth control pills, IUDs, etc.) on the basis of...

On June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) held in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars an employer from firing an individual merely for being gay or transgender. In its ruling, the Court noted that it is “impossible to discriminate...

Agribusiness worksites, shared worker housing, and shared worker vehicles present unique challenges for preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19. Joint guidance by the CDC and DOL provides a template that employers can adapt to protect their workers. Through thoughtful planning, it is possible to...

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, countless employees with young children have opted to utilize the time off provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) in order to provide care to their children in lieu of school and day care center closures nationwide. Now that schools are closed and a vast...

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS has established a COVID-19 Focused Survey for Nursing Homes with the expectation that all nursing homes are inspected to ensure appropriate infection control practices are in place to prevent the spread and transmission of COVID-19. According to Quality Certification &...

The energy industry is one of the top 10 industries targeted for cyberattacks. Increased use of automation systems and the migration of sensitive information to the cloud has helped oil and gas companies become more connected and competitive but these new technologies have also opened the door to cyber criminals...

Did you know that you are responsible for the maintenance of utility or service lines that extend from your home to your property line? You may suddenly experience a drop in water pressure, or an unusually high water bill, and then discover that the water pipe under your front lawn has cracked. Your lawn must be...

Great news for motor carriers - the FMCSA’s Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP) will be pulling “Not Preventable Crashes” out of your CSA scores! Motor carriers participating in the CPDP will see their Safety Measurement System (SMS) information change within 60 days after the...

After many months of closure, the nation is beginning to open. With this in mind, the Director of Quality, Safety and Oversight Group for CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality issued a memo providing recommendations for state and local officials to utilize while determining the level of mitigation needed...

As a result of the pandemic, agribusiness operations face additional pressures and are: Rethinking and re-routing product delivery around restrictions Increasing direct or on-farm sales Refocusing resources (e.g., distilleries making hand sanitizer) Adjusting to new rules in order to continue operations...