Weekly Wright Report - Wright Constable & Skeen

LATEST WEEKLY REPORTS

January 19, 2022 – link

Aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Vaccine Rulings
Maryland Income Tax Filing Extension Announced

January 13, 2022 – link

A Better Way to “Consciously Uncouple” – Collaborative Divorce

January 5, 2022 – link

Don’t Touch That!

December 29, 2021 – link

USCIS Announces Expedited Processing of EAD Work Permit Renewals

December 22, 2021 – link

To Test or Not to Test, That is the Question

December 15, 2021 – link

When is COVID-19 a “Disability” Under the ADA: New Guidance from the EEOC
Avoid Being Dragged Down by Supply Chain Disruptions

December 8, 2021 – link

Federal Judge Halts Vaccine Mandate for Employees of Federal Contractors
Final Rule Issued on Federal Contractor Minimum Wage

December 1, 2021 – link

What Was Old Is New Again – New Executive Order on “Right of First Refusal” to Service Employees of Predecessor Contracts
US Employers Can Now Tap a New Pool of Talented Foreign Workers Without Entanglement in USCIS Bureaucracy

November 24, 2021 – link

Keeping the Holidays Happy in Families with Two Households
If the Scarf Fits: The Brutal Reality of Being a Taylor Swift Ex

November 18, 2021 – link

What’s The Status of the Vaccine Mandate for 100 or more Employees?
EEOC Announced Prioritizing Tackling Systemic Discrimination and COVID-19 Issues in the Workplace

BROWSE MORE WEEKLY WRIGHT REPORTS by practice area

COVID

Looking for articles related to COVID-19?

Visit our COVID-19 Resource Page for the latest articles in business, employment law, family law, construction law and more.

Business

Women-Owned Businesses by the Numbers – WCS News Alert – read now
Behind the Shield: Some States Enact COVID-19 Liability Immunity Laws to Protect Re-Opening Businesses – read now
Much Needed Financial Assistance for Restaurants, Breweries and Eateries – read now
Temporary Tax Deduction Increase to 100% for Business Meals – read now
Maryland’s Minimum Wage Set to Increase January 1, 2021 – read now
New Executive Order Addresses “Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping” – read now
Four New Maryland Laws Take Effect October 1, 2020 – read now
Reopening Safely – Protecting Your Employees and Your Bottom Line – read now
New Appeal Process Established by the SBA for PPP Loan Forgiveness Determinations – read now
Business Interruption Insurance Coverage Update – read now
The DOD Increases Sole Source Contract Opportunities For 8(a) Contractors – read now
An Overview of Virginia’s New Insurance Data Security Act – read now
Baltimore County Small Business Reimbursement Grant Program – read now
New Laws for Virginia Employers – read now
Employer Leave Donation Programs Benefiting COVID-19 Victims (IRC §170) – read now
Judge Orders “Tiger King’s” Zoo Turned Over to Nemesis Carole Baskin – read now
Door Dash – When Individual Arbitration Goes Wrong – read now
Up in the AirBnB: Is Your Area Dealing With Short-Term Rentals? – read now
Interviewing: It’s A Lot Like Dating – read now
Sometimes It Can Pay To Cooperate – read now
The Old Bait And Switch – read now
If You Have Employees in D.C., You Have Another New Set of Labor Requirements – read now
The Intersection of Sci-Fi and the Law Where Time Can Stand Still – read now
New Year, New Minimum Wage Rates – read now
New Year, New Beer (Laws)! – read now
New Year, New IRS Form – read now
Holiday Party Liability: Maryland & Virginia – read now
FY 2019 GAO Results Are In – read now
How to Pay Yourself More in 2020 – read now
President Trump Terminates Executive Order Requiring First Right of Refusal for Incumbent Staff – read now
Trying to Combat the Race to the Bottom, the DOD Limits LPTA Contracting Method – read now
Succeeding as An All Small SBA Joint Venture – read now
Can A Later Contract Automatically Cancel A Prior Contract? It Depends on the Law of Novation – read now
Noncompete Agreements Now Illegal for Lower-Wage Maryland Workers – read now
Off to College But Are They (and You) Really Prepared for Some of the Hidden Adulting? – read now
Beers Welcome Cheers and Jeers – read now
Business Insurance: Do I need D&O? E&O? F&O? (Hint: there is no F&O) – read now
Cyberattacks in Maryland Now Require New Notices – read now
Revisiting an Old Problem – read now
State Contractors, Be Prepared: Maryland’s Responsible Payment of Employee Health Care Expenses Effective July 1 – read now
Sorry, I Think You Have the Wrong Number – Social Security No-Match Letters – read now
Commissions: When Are They Legally Earned? – read now
Year 2020 Comprehensive Zoning Process (CZMP) – read now
#MarylandToo – Maryland Legislature Drastically Changes State Anti-Harassment Law – read now
Can’t We All Just Get Along – Cooperation Clauses in Insurance Policies – read now
Title VII Discrimination Claims in the Age of Telecommuting – read now
Who is Controlling your Corporate Pocketbook? – read now
Misery Loves Company; Your Subcontractor’s Employees are Your Problem Too – read now
Out of State Companies Doing Business In Maryland – read now
Retirement Anyone? Be Mindful of Landmines – read now
Good Deeds Rewarded as Good Deeds – read now
Spring Cleaning Priorities for Your Business – read now
Fourth Circuit Confirms That Employee Medical Exams Pose ADA Liability Risk – read now
Pre-Nuptial Agreements as a Business Value Protection Tool – read now
Practice What They Preach – read now
Shout-out to the Entrepreneurial Spirit of My Uber Driver – read now
Get a Grip on Your Cyber Security Because the DoD is Beginning Compliance Reviews – read now
Do You Operate A Drone Or Use Drone Services In Your Business? Better Check Your Insurance Coverage – read now
McTrademarks Takes a Hit for McDonald’s in the EU – read now
Shutdown Squeezes Small Businesses More Than Anticipated – read now
Part I of Avoiding Uncontrollable FLSA Lawsuits and How Your Unpaid Wages Can Become PAID – read now
5 Hiring Danger Zones – read now
Preference Actions in Bankruptcy – Zombie Claims – read now
Pushing the Envelope Too Far – read now
Fighting for the MBE – read now
Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Performance Reviews? – read now
Cybersecurity for the Non-Cyber Company: Part II – read now
Solid as Sears? Will Your Company Be The Target of a Preference Action? – read now
New Regulatory Structure and Regulations for Veteran Owned Businesses – read now
Cybersecurity for the Non-Cyber Company: Part I – read now
The Debate Over Unlimited Vacations – read now
Labor Traps in Your Contract – read now
Potential Big Break for Small Business – read now
Streamlined Three-Arbitrator Panel Option – read now
Do I Really Need EPLI Coverage? – read more
Ensuring Against the Cyber Inevitability – read more
Wave Goodbye to Effective Waivers – Max Stadfeld
Brick and Mortar Stores – read more
Mind Your State Registration – read more
Contractor Beware – read more
New Maryland Laws and Developments, Part II – read more
New Maryland Laws and Developments, Part I – read more
Maryland Personal Information Protection Act –read more
Employers Beware of the FCA Anti-Retaliation Protections – read more

Construction

Avoid Being Dragged Down by Supply Chain Disruptions – read now
Certificates of Insurance – read now
Out of the Ashes— Lessons Can Be Learned – read now
Misery Loves Company; Your Subcontractor’s Employees are Your Problem Too – read now
The Importance of Claim Notices and Lien Waivers – read now
OSHA Top 10 Violations for 2018 – read now
Pay-If-Paid Versus Pay-When-Paid Clauses – read now
Does Your Coverage Give You Cover for Defective Work by Others? – read now
Liquidated Damage Clauses – read now
What’s in Your Contract – read now
The Effect of Incorporating Documents by Reference – read now
Implied Duties In Your Contract – read now
SBA is Considering Changes to the 8(a) HUBZone Programs – read now
Who is an additional insured – Are you covered? – read now

Government Contracts

Don’t Touch That! – read now
Final Rule Issued on Federal Contractor Minimum Wage – read now
What Was Old Is New Again – New Executive Order on “Right of First Refusal” to Service Employees of Predecessor Contracts – read now
Government Contractors Beware – The False Claims Act Will Be Applied In Cyber Breach Matters – read now
Maryland General Assembly Issues New Opportunities and Guidelines for Government Contractors – read now
DOJ Issues False Claims Act Report for Fiscal Year 2020 – read now
New Corporate Transparency Act Became Effective – read now
The DOD Increases Sole Source Contract Opportunities For 8(a) Contractors – read now
Picky, Picky, Picky – Government Over-Inspection Could Be A Breach – read now
Department of Labor Discretionary Suspensions and Debarments Just Became a Whole Lot Easier and Faster – That Is Probably Not A Good Thing – read now
Buy American Revamp – President Issues New Executive Order – read now
ASBCA Makes Headway – read now
2018 GAO Bid Protest Annual Report – read now
Ignorance Can Turn a Small Contractor into an Ineligible Large Contractor – read more
Labor Traps in Your Contract – read more
Federal Contractors Getting Ready for Government Snooping – read more
The Thrill of Victory… The Agony of the Contract – read more
OFCCP Renewed Focus on Affirmative Action/EEO Compliance – read more
Missed It By That Much – read more
Don’t Ignore Your Contract Notice Provisions – read more
What’s in Your Contract – read more
The Effect of Incorporating Documents by Reference – read more
Implied Duties In Your Contract – read more
SBA is Considering Changes to the 8(a) HUBZone Programs – read more
Who is an additional insured – Are you covered? – read more
Do You Know Where Your Payments Are Going? Uncle SAM Has Been Hacked! – read more
False Claims Act Liability for Third Parties – read more
March Tournament Fever – read more
The Accidental Protest – read more
Pushing the Government Contracting Officer – read more
The Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy – An Overview – read more
2018 National Defense Authorization Act – Impact on Procurement Regulations – read more
The False Claims Act – QUI TAM Actions An Overview – read more
New Partnership Audit Rules – read more
Minimizing the Financial Impact of the Shut Down – read more
Highway Contractors Get Ready to Start Your Engines – read more
New Protest Rules – read more
Contract Changes – read more

Employment and Labor

EEOC Announced Prioritizing Tackling Systemic Discrimination and COVID-19 Issues in the Workplace – read now
Do Employee Personality Tests Violate the ADA? – read now
Are Older Workers a Better Hiring Bet? – read now
It’s Time to Modify your Boilerplate Severance Agreement – read now
Sweetening the Pot: How Employers Can Properly Execute Signing Bonuses – read now
Virginia’s New Overtime Wage Act – read now
Did President Biden Just Create a Nationwide Ban on Non-Compete Agreements? – read now
Can an Employer Incentivize COVID-19 Vaccines? Yes. Here’s How. – read now
When You Don’t “Like” Your Employee’s Social Media Posts and Other Issues Related to Social Media – read now
American Rescue Act Expands FFCRA Leave Allotment – read now
Are Your Parental Leave Policies the Same for Moms and Dads? – read now
It’s Hiring Time. Here are 5 Key Tips for Interviewing Candidates – read now
Record Numbers of Fraudulent Unemployment Claims Filed in Maryland Since January 2021 – read now
Employee Retention Tax Credit Update – read now
Ban on Non-Compete Agreements Amendment Act of 2020 – read now
Certificates of Insurance – read now
Remember Maryland Employers: You Cannot Ask Candidates about Salary History – read now
President Biden’s Department of Homeland Security Delays Changes to H-1B Lottery – read now
OSHA Issues Guidance on Preventing Workplace Spread of COVID-19 – read now
Losing the Clydesdales: How Budweiser is Setting an Example to Revitalize COVID Business Operations – read now
UPDATE: FFCRA May be Voluntarily Extended by Employers Until March 31, 2021 – read now
Can, and Should, Employers Mandate COVID-19 Vaccines? – read now
FFCRA End on December 31, 2020 – What Comes Next for Employers? – listen now
Are Those Employee Holiday Gifts Taxable? – read now
Are Your Employees Spreading Holiday Cheer or COVID-19? – read now
Four New Maryland Laws Take Effect October 1, 2020 – read now
Reopening Safely – Protecting Your Employees and Your Bottom Line – read now
Telework During Pandemic Does Not Set Precedent – read now
Ban the Box Takes Effect in Maryland on February 29, 2020 – read now
EMPLOYER ALERT: Now One Less Reporting Requirement on Federal EEO-1 Reports – read now
Interviewing: It’s A Lot Like Dating – read now
If You Have Employees in D.C., You Have Another New Set of Labor Requirements – read now
5 Tips to Address and Prevent Workplace Violence – read now
How to Pay Yourself More in 2020 – read now
Trust the Process – read now
Playing Your Ball Where it Lies – read now
Is 13 the Lucky Number? – read now
No, I Don’t Represent the “Dark Side” – read now
DOL Issues New Overtime Rule Effective January 1, 2020 – read now
“They/Them/Theirs or Ze/Hir” – read now
HR Mashup – read now
Generation Z, Welcome to the Workforce! – read now
Noncompete Agreements Now Illegal for Lower-Wage Maryland Workers – read now
Be Wary of Unintended Liability Through Employment Policies – read now
The Saga of Antonio Brown’s Helmet – read now
Take This Job and Shove It! – read now
Does Your Workplace Dress Code Policy Discriminate Against Men? – read now
Minimizing Workplace Theft – read now
Your Loneliest Employees Are Working From Home – read now
Revisiting an Old Problem – read now
State Contractors, Be Prepared: Maryland’s Responsible Payment of Employee Health Care Expenses Effective July 1 – read now
Sorry, I Think You Have the Wrong Number – Social Security No-Match Letters – read now
#MarylandToo – Maryland Legislature Drastically Changes State Anti-Harassment Law – read now
Shaken & Stirred—Hazards to Employers When Employees Drink at Work Events – read now
The Most Obvious and Overlooked Employee Wellness Program – Positive Morale – read now
HR Mistakes Happen, Own Up to Them – read now
Do Workplace Wellness Programs Work? – read now
Fourth Circuit Reminds Employers To Treat Workplace Depression With Care – read now
The New Maryland Minimum Wage After the “Fight for Fifteen” – read now
Who is Controlling your Corporate Pocketbook? – read now
Workplace Meeting Complaints – read now
Retirement Anyone? Be Mindful of Landmines – read now
Good Deeds Rewarded as Good Deeds – read now
Spring Cleaning Priorities for Your Business – read now
Fourth Circuit Confirms That Employee Medical Exams Pose ADA Liability Risk – read now
No “Hellish” Standard For Workplace Harassment Claims – read now
Should You Tell Your Employees How to Dress? – read now
Practice What They Preach – read now
Would You Forego Vacation to Get Student Loan Relief? – read now
When You Undertake Workplace Training, Don’t Forget to Get Your Board Members on that Train Too! – read now
5 Hiring Danger Zones – read now
A FMLA Pitfall Story – Not to Be Repeated – read now
Right to Work vs. At-Will Employment – What Does it all Mean? – read now
Pushing the Envelope Too Far – read now
No College Degree? No Problem – read now
Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Performance Reviews? – read now
Forgotten Attorney General Opinion May Shield Maryland Employers From Treble – Damage Liability For Overtime Violations – read now
The Debate Over Unlimited Vacations – read now
Who You Calling A Girl? – read now
WWR ALERT! Employer FCRA Notice Changing – read now
When Should You Tell an Employee to “Suck it up”? – read now
When A Well Written Harassment Policy Is Not Enough – read now
FMLA Forms Updated – read now
Small Issues Become Big Problems for Inattentive Employers – read now
What are Ostentatious Earrings? – read now
EEOC Files Seven Harassment Lawsuits – read now
Employer Liability for Harassment Extends to Actions of Customers As Well – read now
Legislation is Cracking Down on Employers Hiding from Accountability for Harassment – read now
Are Your Employees Taking Summer Vacation? – read now
Mind the Illegal Pay Gap – read now
Should I Have My Employees Sign Arbitration Agreements – read now
Maryland Adopts New (Under-Publicized) Sexual Harassment Law – read now
Appeals Courts Says Allowing An Employee To Work While on FMLA Leave Can Be Lawful – read now
Do I Owe My Employees Accrued Vacation At Termination? – read now
Supreme Court Rejects “Narrow” Reading of Overtime Exemptions – read now
Forcing Employees to Practice the Onionhead Religion at Work, or any Religion for that Matter, is Unlawful – read now
What Equal Pay Days Means in Maryland – read now
Think Using LinkedIn to Communicate with Customers of Your Former Employer is OK? Think Again – read now
Happy 50th ADEA! – read now
Tips for Communication with a Grieving Employee – read now
New 2018 Rules for Paying Interns – read now
“Age Will Matter” Cost Company $50,000 – read now
United Airlines Announces Replacement of Quarterly Performance Bonuses with… a Lottery?!?! – read now
The Customer Isn’t Always Right – When Customers Violate Your Sexual Harassment Policy – read now
Maryland Employers: Hang This Poster in Your Workplace – read now
FMLA Biggest Fail – read now
Holiday Pay Q&A – read now
Beware of Micro-Aggressions – read now
EEOC – LGBTQ! – read now
EEOC Releases Latest Data – read now
The Loss of the Deduction for Employee Transit Subsidies – read now
Calculating FMLA Leave During Holidays and Other Breaks – read now
Interviewers and Recruiters Beware – read now
Minimum Wage Increases in Montgomery County? – read now
Prince George’s County Expand Mandatory PTO Policy – read now
The Gift of Employee Leave – read now
Paid if Paid VS. Paid When Paid – read now
Does Your Insurance Cover That? – read now
EPLI Coverage Review – read now
Disciplining Employees While They Are On FMLA Leave – read now
New Year – New Ideas Introducing … Protected Weekends – read now

Estate Planning

Tax Reform is on the Horizon: Are You Ready? – read now
Employer Leave Donation Programs Benefiting COVID-19 Victims (IRC §170) – read now
The Secure Act – read now
Don’t Forget Dec. 31 Deadline for Most Retirees to Take Required Minimum Distributions – read now
Where There’s A Will, There’s An Estate Attorney – read now
Will A Revocable Trust Do For You What You Think? – read now
Off to College But Are They (and You) Really Prepared for Some of the Hidden Adulting? – read now
A Single Person’s Thoughts About the Unthinkable – read now
R-E-S-P-E-C-T Your Heirs – read more
Still a Little More Work To Do After The Divorce Is Finalized – read more
Maryland Estate Tax – read more

Family Law

Keeping the Holidays Happy in Families with Two Households – read now
Update- To Vaccinate Your Child or Not: Taking a Shot at Reducing the Risk of COVID-19 – read now
Family Law Insight from the Maryland Legislature – read now
Empowering Relationship Decisions through Financial Literacy – read now
A Monumental Week from the Perspective of a Family Lawyer – read now
To Vaccinate Your Child or Not: Taking a Shot at Reducing the Risk of COVID-19 – read now
The Aftermath of the Election from the Perspective of a Family Lawyer – read now
Surprising Similarities Between the 2020 Presidential Election and Family Law Litigation – read now
Controlling Your Destiny: The Rise of Online Mediations – read now
Educate Yourself on How College Accounts are Considered When Dividing Marital Property – read now
Getting Divorced? Don’t Forget Health Insurance – read now
Calling All Parents: It’s Time to Plan for the Unknown – read now
All Kidding Aside, Pick Up the Phone When Your Ex Calls! – read now
Child Support: The Extraordinary Medical Expense Component – read now
A Better Way to “Consciously Uncouple” – Collaborative Divorce – read now
Love and Marriage Take Two: 5 Tips to Prepare for Remarriage – read now
Pre-Nuptial Agreements as a Business Value Protection Tool – read now
A Possible Recalculation of Child Support in Maryland – read now
The Bezos’ Divorce – read now
Upcoming Changes to the Tax Law Affecting Alimony – read now
Justin Bieber’s Nuptials – – read now
Still a Little More Work To Do After The Divorce Is Finalized – read more
Getting Divorced is About to Get Easier – read more
The Real Cost of Revenge Porn –read more
No Duty to Support a Step-Child … or is there? –read more

Immigration

USCIS Announces Expedited Processing of EAD Work Permit Renewals – read now
US Employers Can Now Tap a New Pool of Talented Foreign Workers Without Entanglement in USCIS Bureaucracy – read now

General

If the Scarf Fits: The Brital Reality of Being a Taylor Swift Ex – read now
Maryland Laws Taking Effect October 1, 2021 – read now
Sending Aid to Ida: Beware of Scams Amidst Disaster Relief – read now
The New Streaming Nemesis: A look at the Scarlett Johansson/Disney Suit – read now
New Laws that Took Effect July 1 – read now
Safety First on the Fourth – read now
2021 Maryland Law Update – read now
IRS Extends Deadline for 2020 Individual Income Tax Filings – read now
New Years Resolutions to Get in Shape (Professionally, that is) – read now
Free Britney Spears! – read now
Turn Back the Clock, but Not Your Productivity – read now
Door Dash – When Individual Arbitration Goes Wrong – read now
Up in the AirBnB: Is Your Area Dealing With Short-Term Rentals? – read now
Help With Your Weight Loss Resolution – read now
How to Handle School Bullying – read now
Off to College But Are They (and You) Really Prepared for Some of the Hidden Adulting? – read now
Landlords, Beware of These New Laws – read now
It Is All Fun and Games Until Someone’s Eye Gets Poked Out – read now
Year 2020 Comprehensive Zoning Process (CZMP) – read now
Installing a Pool? Be Careful Before You Dive In – – read now
When Opportunity Knocks, Answer The Door – New Opportunity Zones – read now
Good Neighbors Worth Their Weight In Gold – read more