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In the landmark decision of United States v. Windsor, the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act’s (DOMA) provision which denied federal benefits to gay couples who are legally married in their states.  The Department of Labor (DOL) responded by updating the definition of “spouse” in the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).  As DOL updates its policies, employers should consider what changes they need to make to ensure FMLA-compliance with this quickly evolving area…

Yes.  Unlike other debts owed by a company, unpaid minimum wages and overtime can often be recovered from certain high-level company officials as well as from the company.  As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently ruled, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) defines the term “employer” based on “economic realities” to include not only the offending company but also high-level managers who determine how the business treats its employees.  See Irizarry

These rulings will limit companies’ liability for harassment by apparent bosses without full hire-and-fire authority, and will complicate employer benefit plans as applied to same-sex couples, who will have new rights under current employment laws. Definition of Supervisor under Federal Employment Civil Rights Laws On June 25th, in Vance v. Ball State University, the U.S. Supreme Court clarified the meaning of “supervisor” for purposes of the Civil Rights Act of 1991.  The Supreme Court defined