UPDATE ON STATE AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS

Anyone who has worked for or with a multi-state employer knows that one of the most difficult aspects of absence management is keeping up with changes in state and local laws.   This posting is an effort to provide some of the more recent information about changes in state and local laws, including case law. 

Update on Same-Sex Marriage and Civil Unions

Earlier this year, this blog reported that Hawaii and Illinois had passed legislation recognizing civil unions.  Since then, Delaware and Rhode Island have also recognized civil unions and New York has recognized same-sex marriage.

NEW YORK BEREAVEMENT LEAVE FOR SAME-SEX PARTNERS

Effective October 30, 2010, employers in New York state must provide the same funeral and bereavement leave to employees in same-sex relationships that they provide to married employees. 

NEW YORK PROPOSES REGULATIONS ADOPTING MEDICAL TREATMENT GUIDELINES

The following information was released by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board:On June 30, 2010, the Workers’ Compensation Board published proposed regulations that would make the revised medical treatment guidelines (“Guidelines”) mandatory for providers, employers, and insurance carriers in the workers’ compensation system.

EEOC Settles Sex Bias Case

The New York State Department of Correctional Services will pay nearly $1 million to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the two offices announced on May 21, 2008. The EEOC and the United States had charged the Corrections Department with violating federal law by providing inferior benefits to female employees on maternity leave.