The first few years of operations can be an overwhelming task for emerging companies, especially when it comes to navigating the wide range of employment laws that come with hiring new members of the team. Below is a list of issues to be aware of as you build and structure your workforce. Continue reading to
July 2021
Rights of Tennessee Employers to Bar Firearms and Weapons in the Workplace Remains Unchanged
By Mary Leigh Pirtle on
Effective July 1, 2021, Tennessee’s Constitution Carry law allows individuals over the age of 21 (or military members between ages 18 to 20) to carry a firearm, both concealed and open, with or without a carry permit. However, this new law does not impact a private Tennessee business’ right to prohibit the possession of weapons…
New Bathroom Requirement for Tennessee Businesses Effective July 1, 2021
By Mary Leigh Pirtle on
Posted in Doing Business in Tennessee
Please note that this blog post was updated on July 16, 2021 with information about the bill being deferred.
Update: New Bathroom Requirement for Tennessee Businesses Deferred
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee has temporarily enjoined the recently enacted legislation requiring all Tennessee public and private businesses to post a notice to the extent it has a formal or informal policy allowing a member of either biological sex to use any public restroom within the facility.
This preliminary injunction was issued on July 9, 2021 as the result of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Tennessee on June 25, 2021 requesting both preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against enforcement of the law on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
For now, and until further proceedings in this matter, the notice posting law that was previously effective July 1, 2021 will not apply to employers in Tennessee.Continue Reading New Bathroom Requirement for Tennessee Businesses Effective July 1, 2021
DOL Begins Audit of Retirement Plans for Cybersecurity Shortfalls
Posted in Employee Benefits
To increase protections for the estimated $9.3 trillion in American retirement assets, the Department of Labor (DOL) has begun a new cybersecurity audit initiative for retirement plans. After providing its first set of guidance on cybersecurity in April, the DOL quickly began the audit initiative by issuing information and document requests to numerous 401(k) plan fiduciaries. The DOL has stated that ERISA requires plan fiduciaries to take appropriate precautions to mitigate the risks of cybercrime and this new audit activity clearly indicates that companies must take steps to align their cybersecurity programs with the guidance provided or risk being caught flatfooted by a probing and comprehensive audit.
The DOL’s cybersecurity guidance is aimed at plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, record-keepers, and plan participants. It provides advice on how to best protect the retirement benefits of America’s workers through cybersecurity safeguards. The DOL’s guidance is broken down into the following three documents:
Continue Reading DOL Begins Audit of Retirement Plans for Cybersecurity Shortfalls